Involving traditional health practitioners in HIV/AIDS interventions: Lessons from the Western Cape Province.

Despite international recognition of the potential value of collaboration between traditional health practitioners and western medicine, examples of this approach in South Africa are rare. Contextualised within the aims and objectives of the HIV/AIDS and STIs National Strategic Plan 2007-2011(NSP), the paper looks at one initiative, based in the Western Cape Province. It presents evidence of the scheme’s success to date, its potential for assisting in the NSP’s goals, and the possibility of further developments, which might enhance HIV/AIDS prevention and care strategies. Finally, the paper explores some key problems, and makes recommendations for future initiatives based on the experience