Mental Health The Traditional healer's Dilemma

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A number of traditional healers are aware of the changing socio-cultural scene which affects their practice. In some areas where there are modern medical facilities, they are being consulted less. Not too long ago, one came to ask if I could engage him in the hospital . When i ask him in what capacity and for what role, he said he could be given my retractive cases to treat.
Another one came to ask for help. He had some years of schooling before taking over his fathers’ healing practice. When I asked him to specify what help he wanted, it turned out to be how it could organize his practice so that he could get paid by his patients. It was obvious that he either had no knowledge of how to get his patients to pay his fees, or what knowledge he had did not suit the present situation.

Some of his patients are in paid employment and if the patient is unable to go to work as a result of his illness, the healer either cannot write to say so, or if even he can write his certificate of unfitness to work will not be accepted by the patient’s employers. In the past, all the healers’ patients were self-employed or employed in family business like joint farming, fishing, or trading.

This situation is even more serious when it involves a criminal charge against a person who has treatment for a psychotic illness. While the traditional healer may be called to give expert evidence in a customary court, he is hardly called in a Magistrate or higher court. He does not keep records to guide his memory, and records which may be subpoenaed by the court. The lack of literacy and consequent lack of records create a problem for traditional healers. Psychotic patients are often put in fetters and chains by traditional healers initially because of the acute stage of the illness, and subsequently ,in some cases, for lack of payment of fees to the traditional healer. In some areas, the people are getting to be aware of their fundamental human rights. The traditional healer, like any psychiatrist, cannot interfere with the liberty of any individual. While the psychiatrist knows the law regarding this and he can do the necessary to protect himself, the traditional healer either does not know the law, or if he does he is not empowered to deal with the legalities.

Recently, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye disclosed that more than 60 million Nigerians are suffering from various degrees of mental disorder. In the same vein, he revealed that 80 percent of people move about with one mental disorder without knowing or seeking for help, while 25 percent has advanced cases of mental illness in the country. We are alarmed at this development and call for concerted efforts by the authorities to stem the increasing mental disorder among Nigerians. As an ailment and societal problem, mental illness affects the socio-economic and political growth of any society

Nigeria inclusive.

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