Workshop on Traditional Healing and Policy, June 13 Near Washington, D.C.

The HIV/AIDS Program of the National Council for International Health (NCIH) is sponsoring a one-day meeting, "Traditional Healing: A Community-Based Response to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic," Thursday, June 13, near Washington, D.C. This workshop immediately follows the NCIH annual conference (June 9 - June 12). From a description of the workshop:

"Traditional healers represent the largest and most established division of public health service providers. In much of the world, traditional healers are the most accessible and abundant (and sometimes the only) health resource available to the community. In addition, they are most often the initial and preferred choice -- whether for urban or rural inhabitants. Traditional healers offer information, counseling, and treatment to patients and their families in a personal manner and possess insightful familiarity with the environment of their clients. Despite this, traditional healers have rarely been included in key decision making, action agendas, and community programs in HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Does it make sense to overlook traditional healers when addressing HIV/AIDS, one of the most critical global issues of our century? What are the fears and misunderstandings of Westerners and traditional healers that create barriers to forming equitable working relationships? What needs to happen in order for Westerners and traditional healers to combine their unique resources to solve problems regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and care? How can funders, policy makers, and program planners become 'movers and shakers' to integrate traditional healers into the HIV/AIDS global agenda?"

Kaiya Montaocean (interviewed above) told us there will be excellent speakers, including traditional practitioners from around the world.

The workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel, near Washington; pre-registration is $50 for non-members of NCIH, $35 for members; onsite registration is $15 more. Registration includes lunch and the workshop proceedings. For more information, contact NCIH, phone 202/833-5900, fax 202/833-0075, email ncih@ncih.org, 1701 K St. NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20006.