IMAGE CREDIT: CHAGPT
When a mysterious rash appeared on people in remote villages of Sierra Leone earlier this year, many didn’t rush to hospitals or clinics. Instead, they went to their local traditional healers –trusted elders who mix herbs, chant prayers, and have treated everything from malaria to snakebites for generations.
What few realised was that those symptoms signalled Mpox, a viral disease that has swept across Africa. It has infected more than 40,000 people in Africa since the beginning of 2025 and caused 178 fatalities. In countries like Sierra Leone, by the time patients reached hospitals, the virus had already spread.
A new paper published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases argues that Africa’s traditional healers–long dismissed by modern medicine–could actually be key allies in preventing such outbreaks from getting out of control. The study, written by researchers from Sierra Leone and Ethiopia, calls for closer cooperation between traditional healers and the formal health system.
A trusted first stop for care
Across Africa, nearly six in ten people rely on traditional healers as their first source of healthcare. They are cheaper, more accessible, and, in many rural communities, far more trusted than distant hospitals. For centuries, these healers have provided care for physical, mental, and spiritual illnesses–blending herbal remedies with deep cultural understanding.
It can be argued that traditional healers are often the first line of defense.
In countries like Ghana and Nigeria, healers have even assisted in maternal care, vaccination drives, and community education. But their involvement in epidemic response has been patchy–sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful.
When good intentions go wrong
During the current Mpox outbreak, traditional healers have sometimes unintentionally worsened the crisis. Because they lack medical training, some misdiagnose symptoms or delay referrals to hospitals. In Sierra Leone, the first identified Mpox patient reportedly spent several days under a healer’s care before being tested–delaying official detection.
The paper also highlights how misinformation can spread. Some healers attribute Mpox to witchcraft, curses, or divine punishment. While such beliefs reflect deep-rooted cultural systems, they can discourage vaccination or isolation, allowing the virus to spread faster.
And because many healers don’t use gloves, masks, or disinfectants, they risk becoming infected themselves or passing the virus to others.
Turning challenge into opportunity
Instead of sidelining traditional healers, the authors say governments should train and integrate them into national health plans.
The authors propose several practical steps to make traditional healers active partners in disease control. They suggest training and equipping healers to recognize Mpox symptoms, follow safety protocols, and refer patients early, while providing them with basic protective gear like gloves, masks, and sanitizers.
Such partnerships have worked before. In Uganda and Sudan, traditional midwives trained by health ministries have improved maternal care. The same approach, the paper argues, could make Africa’s outbreak responses faster, stronger, and more culturally sensitive.
For many Africans, illness is not just a medical problem– it’s a social and spiritual one. This worldview makes traditional healers powerful messengers in times of fear and confusion. When they speak, communities listen.
As Mpox continues to test Africa’s fragile health systems, the study sends a clear message: the fight can’t be won without the people communities already believe in. Traditional healers, if trained and supported, can help detect outbreaks sooner, stop misinformation, and strengthen Africa’s defenses against future health emergencies.
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Tracking Malaria Seasons Across Africa:Researchers mapped how malaria cases rise and fall throughout the year across sub-Saharan Africa. They gathered over 4,000 records from 47 countries, combining health data, mosquito studies, and local expert reports. Using machine learning, they identified when malaria peaks in different regions–for example, around September to October in the Sahel and March to May in southern Africa.
The open-access dataset helps governments and health agencies better time control measures such as mosquito net distribution, spraying, and seasonal preventive treatments for children. By revealing how malaria transmission changes with weather and geography, the study offers a powerful tool for more targeted and effective malaria prevention across the continent. [Reference, Scientific Data]
Young Women Facing Rising Breast Cancer Rates in North Africa: This study found that breast cancer among young women aged 15 to 39 is rising sharply in North Africa. From 1990 to 2021, cases increased by 166% and deaths by 58%–much higher than global averages. Libya showed the fastest growth in both new cases and deaths, while Algeria had the lowest death rates.
Researchers say the rise is linked to limited screening, cultural stigma, and unequal access to healthcare. They call for urgent action, including awareness programs for young women, mobile screening services, better cancer data collection, and regional cooperation. The findings highlight a growing health threat for young women in North Africa that needs early detection and targeted treatment efforts. [Reference, Breast Cancer]
Kidney Transplants in Africa Show Promise Despite Major Challenges: This study reviewed kidney transplant outcomes across Africa and found that, despite limited resources, survival rates are encouraging and often match global standards. Most transplants use living donors, usually family members, and one-year patient survival rates range from about 90% in Nigeria to 98% in Egypt.
However, challenges such as high treatment costs, poor infrastructure, lack of modern medicines, and weak follow-up systems threaten long-term success. Many patients struggle to afford dialysis or post-transplant care, and donor shortages remain a problem. The study concludes that with better funding, improved transplant facilities, access to essential drugs, and stronger national programs, Africa can achieve sustainable and effective kidney transplant care for patients with kidney failure. [Reference, Nature Springer]
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