AIDS Foundation South Africa hosted its fifth bi-annual Learning and Sharing conference. The theme of the conference was culture and health in the context of HIV & AIDS, which explored how cultural norms and value systems shape community and individual perceptions of health and illness. The conference also examined how gender relations impact on health promotion and the risk of HIV infection. Several stakeholders, including government, political and religious leaders, civil society and traditional healers were part of the conference.

The two-day conference was officially opened by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize. He stressed how important it is to identify cultural practices that prevent communities from accessing HIV and Aids services. For example, he said that, “We know that there are certain beliefs which have resulted in a number of women not accessing family planning services.”

Touching on the subject of traditional healers, the premier said their role was critical because of their influence on the community.

“Traditional leaders have been instrumental in ensuring the success of Medical Male Circumcision. To date 10,229 males have been circumcised after His Majesty [King Goodwill Zwelithini] announced the revival of MMC,” Mkhize said.

The timing of the conference was opportune, as the World Health Organisation released a report recently, highlighting the progress the world is making in the fight against HIV and Aids. The report stated that the knowledge of one’s HIV status remained inadequate, and added that testing and counselling programmes were not always tailored to local contexts. Mkhize said the KwaZulu-Natal government has launched its own tailor-made campaign.

“We are convinced that our efforts will make a huge difference at national level,” said Mkhize.

KwaZulu-Natal is the second most populous province, with just over 10.4 million people. “This province also has the highest TB burden in South Africa... There is a higher prevalence amongst the ages 15-29 years, with a rising trend amongst the ages of 10-14 years,” said Mkhize.

South African Indigenous Healthcare Research chairperson Nceba Gqaleni told the conference that the plan should inculcate cultural values in support of efforts to prevent HIV and reduce the impact of Aids in the province and nationally. He said that more research needed to be done around traditional medicines and their contribution to helping those who do not qualify for treatment at private health institutions.

He strongly sought to dispel the link between traditional medicine and AIDS denialism, an assumption which has seen a lack of government support for research into the value that can be added by traditional medicine. “I believe in traditional medicines but that does not make me an Aids denialist,” Gqaleni said, and continued: “We need to contextualise this and play a competitive role in prevention, treatment care and support, researching, monitoring and surveillance, advocacy, investment and developing new strategies and solutions with no short cuts. It is a fact that our people consult traditional healers for help.”

He said the promotion of genuine collaboration between traditional health practitioners and health professionals will enhance the work of both sectors and benefit patients.