Soc Sci Med. 1989 ; 28(6): 605-12.

Healers in transition.

Oppong AC.

King's Mill Hospital, Notts, England.

This paper, through the use of case histories illustrates the variety of traditional practitioners to be found in Plateau State Nigeria. The changes that some of them have undergone in the absence of official policy regarding integration, and under the influence of Western medicine, are discussed in terms of role adaptation. The options for collaboration between traditional and Western medicine are discussed and specific examples in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia are given. Potential problems facing such programmes are raised together with possible benefits. The need for a deeper understanding of traditional practitioners and their interest in co-operating with Western medical systems is discussed as well as the contribution that the use of case histories could make to this process.