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Discard belief in soothsayers, VP tells Shinyanga residents
2008-07-24 10:41:54
By Anceth Nyahore, PST, Shinyanga
People in Shinyanga Region have been urged to discard the practice of seeking healing of ailments from soothsayers. The call was made by Vice-President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein recently at the launch of Sangilwa village dispensary during his tour of Shinyanga Region.
Dr Shein said the people`s deep belief in soothsayers was the main cause of the current wave of albino killings in the region.
``You have to change this habit because physical ailments can only be reliably cured at medical hospitals,`` he said.
He advised the people to observe treatment instructions as prescribed by trained medical practitioners.
``You need to have your health examined at least twice a year,`` he advised.
The VP, however, recognised the usefulness of local herbalists who, he said, played an important role in healing some diseases.
Shinyanga Region, which is estimated to have a population of more than 3.4 million, has nine hospitals, 30 health centres and 311 dispensaries.
The region has a total of 1,763 hospital beds, 1,212 of which are in district hospitals and 551 in health centres.
According to a development report read to the VP by Shinyanga Regional Commissioner Yohana Balele, major diseases afflicting the people include respiratory diseases, malaria, diarrhoea, hookworms and HIV/Aids.
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