Indigenous approaches to the HIV/AIDS and courage in Uganda

Abstract

The management of HIV/AIDS-related illness using existing drugs is very costly especially for poor households. Therefore, this study has focused on the role of traditional herbalists in the management and prevention of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses in Uganda. It has also examined the existing linkages between traditional herbalists, the government and other agencies working on HIV/AIDS and how these linkages can be enhanced,and the community's perception about traditional herbalist in the management and prevention of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. A Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) approach was used, involving focused group discussions (FGDs) with traditional herbalists and AIDS patients who were using traditional herbs to manage HIV/AIDS-related illnesses. The traditional herbalists identified about six HIV/AIDS-related illnesses they manage, which include skin-related infections, persistent fever, cough, headache, chronic diarrhoea, and internal and external wounds. They also...