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Africa Life Clinic

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Factual: Health & Wellbeing

Africa Life Clinic, health issues affecting people’s everyday lives across the continent.

The Covid pandemic is the overwhelming health issue facing Africa right now. However there are a multitude of other health issues which affect people’s daily lives across the continent. Africa Life Clinic aims to reflect the health concerns of Africa through a focus on ‘relatable’ stories- issues that strike a chord with the audience, that might be part of their lives and affect them personally. As well as delving into ongoing developments with the pandemic, Africa Life Clinic features stories about health that concern the continent, such as safe and affordable blood donation, stopping the sale of fake drugs, preventing the spread of rabies and finding ways of dealing with chronic conditions like diabetes or improving mental health. Each week it features perspectives and solutions from different countries.

Africa Life Clinic: Modern medicine versus the spirits

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Factual: History

Modern medicine versus the spirits

06/03/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - Africa Life Clinic, Modern medicine versus the spirits

Can traditional treatment, including calling on the ancestors help with serious ailments?

Can traditional treatments, including calling on the ancestors really help with serious ailments?

When it comes to mending broken bones or rectifying the eye problems caused by the disease Trachoma, what place does traditional medicine have?  Many people would choose traditional medicine practitioners over conventional doctors and hospitals. However herbalism and spiritual belief are poor substitutes when surgery is needed. Can these two very different approaches be reconciled for the benefit of patients? 
Priscila Ngethe, Khadidiatou Cisse, and Charles Mgbolu discuss the conflict and potential for collaboration between the opposing forces of traditional and orthodox medicine.
(Picture: Bone setting an arm. Credit: Life Clinic TV)

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