Durban South Africa, March 11, 2004, HIV/AIDS Conference - L to R – Ambassador Cameron Hume surrounded by S. African Traditional Healers with Consul General Michael Thurston on the left and Dr. Barry Kistnasamy, Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, Univ. of KwaZula-Natal.  [Photo courtesy of the Univ. of KwaZula-Natal]

Durban, South Africa, March 11-12, 2004:Ambassador Cameron Hume officially opened an inaugural precedent-setting HIV/AIDS workshop on HIV/AIDS at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  Some 200 traditional healers from across KwaZulu-Natal Province gathered at the school to share their experiences with the biomedical community.  Dr. Jack Killen, Director of the Office of International Health Research at the National Institutes of Health came from Washington and delivered a very spirited address.  A senior charismatic and spiritual leader for all traditional healers in South Africa also attended.  The workshop provided healers an opportunity to learn about new and advanced HIV testing methods.  Speakers and participants agreed that a major step had been taken in dispelling mistrust and forging a cooperative partnership between traditional healers and medical doctors in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  A joint task force was agreed upon that will include 11 traditional healers.