Traditional healers in South Africa. Photo: securethefuture.com

LUANDA - Angolan traditional healers and owners of natural medicine centres will meet Sunday, Sept. 19 in Luanda, to outline strategies for the institutionalisation of their profession and setting up of a National Council in November this year.

According to Lucas Figueira, with the Therapists Commission working together with the Health Ministry (MINSA), the meeting will also serve to put forward to the members the draft statutes and create conditions for the registration of all traditional healers and natural doctors in the country.

“This registration should be carried out before the proclamation of the Council so that most of the provinces can attend and the recognition of an activity that guarantees health to 80 percent of African become justified,” he stated, adding that working teams will be appointed.

Lucas Figueira added that the recognition by the Government will facilitate the control over the activity, herbs research and setting up of laboratories.

According to the source, there is an intention to evolve to a national institute of traditional medicine, for a harmonious coexistence with the conventional medicine.

The 20-member Therapists Commission that is working with MINSA, was set up on 31 August this year, during the African Traditional Medicine Campaign held in Luanda under the motto “Pushing African Health Forward Through Traditional Medicine.”