The Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia […]

The Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia has backed plans by Lusaka’s mayor-elect to remove excessive herbal medicine posters and banners from the city, saying the advertisements have become a nuisance and are contributing to littering.

 Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Association president Dr Rodwell Vongo said traditional healers should be allowed to advertise their services, but only in a controlled manner and preferably at the premises where they operate. Dr Vongo said putting posters across different townships, roads and public spaces was unethical and undermined professionalism in traditional healthcare.

 “One poster, one poster, not six, not ten, not five, not two. Only one poster is allowed,” Dr Vongo said.

He said it was common to find the same traditional healer advertising in several parts of Lusaka despite operating from one location.

“You find the same doctor in Matero, Kanyama, Chawama, Mandevu, George and other places. What does he want to achieve?” he asked.

Dr Vongo said excessive posters were not only an eyesore but could also obstruct motorists and pedestrians while contributing to the growing problem of litter in the city.

He said the association supports efforts to keep Lusaka clean and called on traditional healers to cooperate with the local authority. “The mayor cannot clean Lusaka alone.

 We need to clean with him. We need to help him to keep Lusaka clean,” he said.

 Dr Vongo dismissed concerns from some traditional healers that removing the posters would affect their businesses, arguing that practitioners could still advertise through a single poster at their place of operation.

 He further called for greater self-regulation among traditional health practitioners, saying the sector should prioritize professionalism, ethics and patient welfare rather than aggressive advertising.

“The sick must look for a physician, not the physician looking for the sick,” Dr Vongo said.

He said excessive advertising could also make it difficult for members of the public to distinguish legitimate practitioners from individuals seeking to exploit sick people.

 Dr Vongo said traditional healers should maintain dignity in their profession and avoid practices that could expose patients to fraud. “We want dignity.

We want respect for the patient. We want ethics and professionalism,” he said. He urged traditional health practitioners to support efforts aimed at maintaining clean and orderly cities, saying cleanliness should be a collective responsibility.

 “If somebody says, ‘Let’s keep Lusaka clean,’ why not support such a good cause?” Dr Vongo said.

By Karen Ngulube.