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Charlatanism does not exist in traditional medicine. It has several disciplines. If we are all put in one basket, we will all be called charlatans. If we are put on the debate table, the debate will never end because those specialized in some disciplines will not understand each other since they might treat one disease in different ways. If a distinction is made between us according to the various disciplines, I will tell you there are actors dealing with physical health, others in spiritual health. If the two corps are put in a debate, they will not understand each other. The moderator of that debate will leave understanding nothing.

I therefore call on my colleagues not to seek recognition from the administration because they cannot organize us. We should take our responsibilities to identify our members and when we come together as one strong force, our voice will be heard.

We were discouraged from unethical practices – Diana Achu Fomben, herbalist

Diana Achu Fomben, Yaounde-based herbalist, was one of 24 tradi-practitioners who received a certificate of participation for attending a two-day seminar on best practices for the security of the patient organized in prelude to the celebration of the 17th African Day of Traditional Medicine under the theme “Integration of traditional medicine in the progress of the teaching of university students in health sciences in the African region”. She spoke to The Horizon and began by saying what the certificate of participation means to her. Excerpts:

I gained a lot from participating in this seminar. The government is trying to put in place order in our practice. I learnt, for example, that I am not supposed to produce medicine and just sell by the roadside. We have to be limited to our various specialities. If I am a herbalist, I should specialize in that domain and not extend my competence to treating over 10 diseases. We were also discouraged from unethical practices such as demanding human parts to treat ailments like sterility in women, or bathing people naked in public. We also learnt it was wrong to force a woman you have treated to become your wife because she cannot pay for the treatment.

The government is trying to put in place a structure of identification which will start from your own origin. A herbalist, for example, should be identified by people around him and not the administration to give you recognition. It is easier for those in your community to identify you as a specialist in the treatment of diseases like spleen and other child-related ailments.

What is your speciality?

I am a herbalist located in Yaounde. The art was passed on to me by my father. I was trained in healing several diseases but I had to specialise in a few areas. Government is trying to discourage us from being do-it-all practitioners. I inherited from my father the art of treating many diseases but now I have to specialize in treating may be just 2 or 3 of them.