Christian Missionary Medicine and Traditional Healers: A Case Study in Collaboration from the Philippines

Abstract

Traditional healers pose a challenge to Christian medical personnel in developing countries. Traditional medicine provides up to 90 percent of the health care in some countries and is being included in some primary health care systems. Challenges to Christian practitioners often include differences in disease theory, diagnostic and treatment practices, and theological perspective. This article describes the approach of a Christian primary health care team who, after careful study of traditional healers, forged a successful collaborative alliance with a group of traditional healers in the Philippines. Benefits and pitfalls of such collaboration are discussed, as well as potential applications in other settings.