Collaboration

Healers in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania have been given access to hospitals, which has motivated them greatly. One project leader in the United Republic of Tanzania suggested establishing a cooperative relationship with a hospital or clinic to facilitate collaboration (Scheinman, personal communication). THETA Uganda leaders noted as well that developing a lasting collaboration between the two health systems involves much effort on both sides of the collaborative relationship. Collaborative project designs cannot emphasize only the efforts required by healers and assume that the biomedical health workers will follow without as much time and energy input. In Malawi, similar lessons were noted, and authors suggested that more collaborative referral networks need to be encouraged between traditional healers and the formal health sector (Porter, 1996). It may be that what is needed is simply a change of attitude within the biomedical health structures and among personnel. The key is a true dialogue (Webb, 1997).

Finally, THETA has suggested that the type of collaboration they have created in Uganda could be extended nationwide if emphasis were placed on building strong links at the community level with local leaders, health authorities, government and nongovernmental key players. These links ensure sustainability, reduce programme costs and increase healer recognition in their own communities.