HARARE - As the cost of medical attention in local hospitals keeps spiraling, a wave of fake 'doctors' have taken over health provis...
HARARE - As the
cost of medical attention in local hospitals keeps spiraling, a wave of fake
'doctors' have taken over health provision in the country.
Sadly, the prevalent
shortage of drugs, coupled with drug shortages in some public institutions has
given rise to the fake doctors who have inherited tittles only reserved for
qualified professionals. I have become a norm to see advertisements in the
local press peddling their provisions to the general public. Though some of
these services cannot be verified, some of the so-called 'doctors' have the temerity
to distribute fliers in convenient places in towns to attract clientele.
Many of the
self-proclaimed practitioners are of dubious credentials and are operating
without any proper registration and identification. It is the country's regulation
that every health provider, even traditional ones are properly regulated in
order to serve the population. Their operating rooms and qualifications need to
be monitored in order to protect the sick from any health dangers.
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| Exorbitant medical fees expose patients to fake 'doctors' |
Even though some
of their list of ‘treatments’ is scientifically impossible, many people have
taken them as a last resort to get relief for varying alignments. One such
'healer' is 'Dr. Zwane, who only provided his telephone details in a local
daily. The healer can only be seen by appointment after verifying and vetting
his clients accordingly. The place is always secretively to eliminate unnecessary
contact with the law, since most of their operations are deemed illegal.
Amongst some of
the treatments on offer are: sexual transmitted diseases, diabetes, hypertension
and other chronic diseases. However, it is their capability to offer services
such as: attracting customers, penis enlargement, stopping marriages from
breaking apart, removing bad luck and inducing of love and good luck. Their
self-claimed ability to attract financial wealth is always questionable after
many clients have been loaded with demonic spirits after consulting these
healers and some have even lost money during dubious healing sessions.
In other
instances, these self-anointed healers have claimed to possess treatments for
HIV and AIDS rendering patients to go off their antiretroviral treatments after
being promised instants results. Scientifically, it has been proven that 'penis
enlargement' is a fallacy; surprisingly many men are duped of large amounts of
money in a bid to satisfy their demanding partners. With such promises as,
'male organ enlargement 10-20 cm same day', healers such as 'Dr. Shumba' have become
an instant hit within Harare. Unknown to these patients, some of the medicines
have side effects that can only be noted later in one's life such as kidney
failures.
Most of these
healers have resorted to promoting their services in the press, a phenomenon
that was alien previously. But with a failing health provision in the nation,
the fake doctors have buttressed their illicit trade. Sources privy to the
trade say even operations such as abortion are reportedly taking place under
the cover of darkness. Unfortunately, many have their health compromised after
such illegal procedures. Only people with appointments are eligible to
accessing the 'doctor's' consultation rooms. In addition, the prescription
offered at times does not allow patients to ingest medicines from the hospital,
thereby rendering patients vulnerable to drug resistance. Cases of HIV and AIDS
patients who have absconded on their treatment are rampant.
Traditional
healers just like professional doctors are required by law to register their
operations with their respective professional bodies. However, some of these
traditional healers remain anonymous and are not under any body. The procedure
is similar to that operating in South Africa where illegal healers have
sprouted in busy towns offering a variety of treatments, while some have
recorded deaths in their consultation rooms after administering unorthodox treatment
methods.
Previously,
traditional healers used to operate clandestinely and many did not want to be
associated with the trade. Of late, this has shifted with many publicizing
their trade in order to lure more clients. After calling the healer, one is
directed to the 'consultation room' to receive treatment. Many of the
practitioners have been known to shift bases in order to curtail any surveillance
by authorities. Though the use of African Traditional medicines was rampant
then, the rise of 'healers' using latest technological methods is now common.
Theses healers are known to manipulate platforms such as social media to become
visible to their clientele. Consulting traditional healers is now an acceptable
practice though people used to do it clandestinely. - Musvo.
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