Mthetho Ndoni
Mthetho Ndoni
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and the Medical Research Council signed a memorandum of understanding this week.
The agreement between the traditional healers (ECHTH) and the council (MRC) will enable both sides to improve the tackling of crucial issues, such as circumcision and virginity inspections.
Chief Ngangomhlaba Matan- zima said the agreement would allow the MRC to conduct research on traditional lands in the province.
Matanzima said: "We will be doing this for the benefit of the province and the people. We decided to work with the MRC because there are many issues which need to be researched."
Traditional leaders HIV-Aids provincial programme coordinator, Prince Langa Mavuso, said they were looking forward to their relationship with the MRC.
"The solution for the HI-virus cannot come from either Western medicines or indigenous African plants only, but if they are combined, something positive will come out of the two."
Mavuso said ECHTH wanted traditional medicine to be recognised not only in South Africa, but all over the world.
Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, ECHTH vice chairman, said the MRC has vast medical expertise and traditional leaders could benefit from that.
He said that the partnership would benefit the people of the Eastern Cape and especially those communities in the deep rural areas.
Traditional and medical pact signed
Mthetho Ndoni
Mthetho Ndoni
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and the Medical Research Council signed a memorandum of understanding this week.
The agreement between the traditional healers (ECHTH) and the council (MRC) will enable both sides to improve the tackling of crucial issues, such as circumcision and virginity inspections.
Chief Ngangomhlaba Matan- zima said the agreement would allow the MRC to conduct research on traditional lands in the province.
Matanzima said: "We will be doing this for the benefit of the province and the people. We decided to work with the MRC because there are many issues which need to be researched."
Traditional leaders HIV-Aids provincial programme coordinator, Prince Langa Mavuso, said they were looking forward to their relationship with the MRC.
"The solution for the HI-virus cannot come from either Western medicines or indigenous African plants only, but if they are combined, something positive will come out of the two."
Mavuso said ECHTH wanted traditional medicine to be recognised not only in South Africa, but all over the world.
Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, ECHTH vice chairman, said the MRC has vast medical expertise and traditional leaders could benefit from that.
He said that the partnership would benefit the people of the Eastern Cape and especially those communities in the deep rural areas.