Traditional healers in the Nigerian health care delivery system and the debate over integrating traditional and scientific medicine

Relying on experience with a traditional healer focus group discussions, and interviews with traditional healers, the author analyzes the functions and importance of traditional healers in the health care delivery system of Nigeria. It is concluded that in a society where healing involves not just the curing of disease but also the protection and promotion of human physical, spiritual, and material well-being, traditional healers remain the very embodiment of conscience and hope in their respective communities. The holistic and cathartic nature of their treatment and the fact that in certain places in the country they are the major or only source of health care, make them very important. The author also examines the debate over the possible integration of traditional and scientific medicine. It is concluded that outright integration would be too ambitions and practically impossible but that some form of cooperation is possible, given political will. Regardless of the official government policy on the issue, the two traditions are complementary and Nigerians patronize both of them.