Young female journalist and traditional healer, Fortunate Machaba (Gogo Mahlasela), established her own Traditional Medicine Supply Business “Hlasi Medical Supplies” for Traditional healers across the country.
Fortunate Machaba, 25 from Mamelodi East was recently dismissed, in her opinion unfairly, from work and started her business after Times Live published an article based on research saying that most traditional healers in South Africa are exposed to diseases such as HIV, TB, Covid-19, and others as not all of them have access to protective equipment and some perhaps don’t realise that they should wear it.
She said, I want to supply and encourage all the traditional Healers in and around South Africa to start using protective gear including wearing masks in their sacred house assisting clients or patients, wearing gloves when using razor blades on clients and rubbing herbs directly on their skins, using spirit and cotton wool before cutting clients to minimize the risk of getting infections, using sanitizers before and after every client’s visits. Health is costly and important to consider regardless of our faith. Hence my slogan says if health is lost, imagine the cost.
The South African Government has spent millions of Rand getting the Covid-19 virus manageable in hospitals and in communities. South Africans including traditional healers also need to take initiative for their own safety and health.
Many reports have shown many lives that were lost during the pandemic and it is up to every individual what they do about the matter faced by the whole world. As a young traditional healer, I would like to see traditional healers safe and healthy, practicing all the safety measures, having protective equipment in their sacred houses, and being at less risk of contracting diseases.
Having to play a role into encouraging health makes me feel proud of myself because being healthy should be part of every individual’s lifestyle to prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses. Taking care of health is important for one’s self-esteem and self-image, I believe is the right thing to do for their own good.
The new business is expected to change the lives of many in the future and those who are in the traditional health space with no access to protective gear, and more risks to contracting diseases.
By: Fortunate Machaba
Mamelodi Happenings 