Imbiza definition
Imbiza is an herbal mixture made by traditional healer is given for AIDS patients. This probably helps to increase patients’ appetite and a feeling of wellness. MCDI’s study called Traditional Healers and the Biomedical Health System in the Ndwedwe District: Prospects for Collaboration, funded by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Centre International South Africa, will provide insight about changing some harmful practices in the community, such as the one involving the use of blades mentioned above. This study is a major research initiative that will add to the body of knowledge about the knowledge, attitudes and current practices of traditional healers on the topics of STIs, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health, and will also examine the relationship between traditional healers and the “biomedical” health system. The goals of this initiative include the identification of barriers to meaningful interaction, and the development of recommendations for improving collaboration between biomedical service providers and traditional healers. It is envisioned that the results of this study will assist in the identification of opportunities for potential collaboration and will support efforts to overcome the constraints that are currently dividing traditional and biomedical health systems on HIV/AIDS care and support. Management of illness at home is a mixture of modern and traditional practices. The HBCVs have trained individuals in the community in providing care and emotional support to their sick family members. They bathe, feed, clothe and take care of their day-to-day needs. Unfortunately, social stigma still hinders infected individuals from revealing their status and many families still say that they will not allow an HIV infected individual to live with them. Many community members still believe that HIV positive people are bewitched, and therefore disclosure is usually not made about one’s status. Although HIV positive people in the community often fail to accept their status, many approach traditional healers. Traditional healers sometimes tell the HIV positive person that he or she has “amagobongo,” or the spirit of ancestors sitting on your shoulders and sucking your blood, which leads to loss of weight. It is estimated by the project staff that a high percentage of community members believe in this. In addition to the traditional healers research study outlined above, the project will carry out qualitative research (with both communities and traditional healers) to understand...