End Preventable Deaths of Women and Kids in Togo

In Togo, traditional healers are respected elders in most communities, and use a wide variety of methods to remedy illness ranging from herbs and local plants to prayers and ceremonies. Hope Through Health’s 2014 household survey shows that a significant percentage of mothers (ranging from 3% to 14% by site) first seek health advice from a traditional healer. There are many reasons why mothers chose to take their children to a traditional healer to receive care. She might believe that traditional medicine works better than western medicine; she might feel pressure from family members to visit a traditional healer, or she might choose this option because it is less expensive than going to the health center.

 Hope Through Health sees the practice of traditional medicine to be a barrier to quality healthcare, however we see traditional healers themselves an untapped population of change makers who through engagement and collaboration can have a significant impact on the improvement of health outcomes of their communities.

 In February 2016, Hope Through Health gathered traditional healers for a training that had three main objectives:

• Engage traditional healers in the MCH program active in their community
• Teach traditional healers how to detect danger signs in children under five and pregnant women
• Ensure that traditional healers refer all sick children under five and pregnant women to a community health worker or directly to the health center instead of treating themselves

The training was led by HTH’s expert community liaison, our Community Health Worker Supervisor. The training was interactive and involved role-plays and small group activities. Discussions were lively as participants shared experiences of treating—and not treating—community members. In general the participants had a perception of what they had the ability to cure (spiritual problems, for example) and what they did not (malaria, diarrhea, complications in pregnancy). They welcomed the opportunity to learn more and were in favor of a long-term collaboration with HTH.

At the end of the training, the traditional healers were overwhelmingly grateful that HTH involved them in the effort of making their community healthier. “Now, we feel considered by the MCH program,” one participant expressed. “We understand that we can play an important role in the health of our community.”

In the weeks following the training, the MCH team has already noticed a difference. In the village of Sarakawa, three children have been referred from traditional healers to Community Health Workers. One healer even carried the child himself to the CHW’s house in the middle of the night.

The success of the traditional healer training is an example of the important impact of building community buy-in to ensure the success of the MCH program, an important tenant in the operating principles of Hope Through Health.