Traditional healers enrich modern healthcare system, says Sampath

By Admin

05 Jun, 2025

A cultural revival in healthcare policy

SHILLONG, June 4   In a powerful endorsement of indigenous knowledge, Principal Secretary for Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar, emphasized the urgent need to integrate traditional health systems into mainstream healthcare frameworks during the launch of the book "Tribal Health and Well-being in Meghalaya, India" at Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU).

Kumar underscored that many health challenges, especially maternal deaths, are rooted in the disconnect between institutional systems and community-trusted practices. Drawing from maternal death reviews and field insights, he noted that the exclusion of traditional birth attendants has often proven detrimental, despite their strong community ties and efficacy in providing care.

“When we engaged with traditional healers, we saw the trust they held and the role they already play in promoting practices like vaccination and safe deliveries. It is time we brought them into the fold,” Kumar said, advocating for a harmonious collaboration between traditional wisdom and modern medical science.

A book grounded in cultural realities

Published by MLCU Press, the book is a scholarly compilation that documents tribal health realities and presents policy recommendations rooted in Meghalaya’s unique cultural context. It is the outcome of a 2023 initiative titled “Creation of a Curriculum on the Health of Indigenous and Tribal Communities: Meghalaya”, funded by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Germany.

Divided into three insightful sections, the book comprises:

• 15 chapters on tribal health, well-being, and traditional practices,
  
  

• Two major policy documents: the MOTHER policy and the Mental Health and Social Care Policy,
  
  

• 11 research articles addressing vaccine hesitancy, contraception, health systems, and the invaluable role of traditional healers.
  
  

Academic commitment to social impact

MLCU Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr Larilin Kharpuri, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and its mission to address local health challenges. She highlighted MLCU’s pioneering work in documenting and building capacity among tribal healers, advocating for their rightful recognition in the healthcare narrative.

Sandra Albert, Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Shillong, presented the book as a comprehensive resource that merges research, policy, and reflective learning. She emphasized that while tribal medicine remains widely accepted across Meghalaya, the centrally promoted AYUSH systems often lack cultural resonance in the region.

Youth-driven exploration of indigenous practices

The event also featured a poster presentation by students from the Departments of Nutrition and Environment and Traditional Ecosystems. Their work on therapeutic plants and traditional healing methods sparked great interest among attendees, reflecting growing student engagement with real-world health issues and indigenous knowledge systems.

A collaborative way forward

Kumar urged for the book to serve as a foundational resource in policy and medical education and called upon MLCU to partner with the state in mainstreaming proven traditional practices. “Inclusive policies must reflect the lived experiences of tribal communities,” he noted, highlighting the need for empathetic and culturally responsive governance.

The event was graced by prominent dignitaries, including the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, faculty members, and students. Esteemed guests like former diplomat Rudi Warjri and Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times and author of the book’s foreword, added weight to the occasion.

As Meghalaya navigates its healthcare challenges, this collaboration between tradition and modernity signals a new, inclusive era of healing rooted in cultural wisdom.