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Traditional healers enrich modern healthcare system, says Sampath

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Book on tribal health and well-being in Meghalaya, published by MLCU, launched

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, June 4: Principal Secretary for Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar, stressed the critical importance of acknowledging and integrating traditional health systems into formal healthcare frameworks.
He was speaking at an event to launch the book titled Tribal Health and Well-being in Meghalaya, India in Shillong on Wednesday. The Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) hosted the event.
Kumar has praised the book, published by MLCU Press, for documenting the realities and presenting policy recommendations rooted in the cultural context of Meghalaya.
Drawing on insights from maternal death reviews and field experiences, he said many maternal deaths occurred in settings where traditional birth attendants were excluded from the health system despite their deep community trust and care.
Citing examples of effective community health practices and traditional healers contributing to TB detection and care, he advocated a respectful engagement between modern and traditional systems.
“When we engaged with traditional healers, we saw the trust they held and the role they already play in promoting practices like vaccination and safe deliveries. It is time we brought them into the fold,” Kumar said.
He said the book should be used as a foundational resource in medical and policy education, and called upon the MLCU to collaborate with the state in documenting and mainstreaming proven traditional practices through inclusive policies that reflect the lived experiences of tribal communities.
Earlier, MLCU Pro-Vice Chancellor Larilin Kharpuri, highlighted the university’s continued commitment to addressing local health challenges through interdisciplinary research and publication.
She said the book was an outcome of a 2023 project entitled ‘Creation of a Curriculum on the Health of Indigenous and Tribal Communities: Meghalaya’, funded by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Germany.
Dr Kharpuri added that MLCU has been a pioneer in advancing work related to tribal healers, from documentation and capacity building to advocacy, underscoring the university’s role in preserving indigenous knowledge and promoting culturally responsive health education.
Sandra Albert, the Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong, introduced the new book as a comprehensive resource that combines research, policy, and reflective learning.
Divided into three sections, the book includes 15 chapters on tribal health, well-being, traditional practices, and indigenous knowledge; two key policy documents from the government of Meghalaya – the MOTHER policy and the Mental Health and Social Care Policy; and 11 research articles on vaccine hesitancy, contraception, traditional healers, and health systems.
Dr Albert emphasised the deep-rooted indigenous identity of Meghalaya’s tribes, the widespread use and acceptance of tribal medicine among local communities, and the limited relevance of the centrally promoted AYUSH systems in the region.
The programme featured a poster presentation by students from the Departments of Nutrition and the Department of Environment and Traditional Ecosystems. They displayed their work on various themes related to traditional healing practices and medicinal and therapeutic plants in rural communities.
The presentations drew keen interest from the attendees and reflected the students’ growing engagement with real-world health issues.
After the formal part of the programme, the guests were invited to interact with the student presenters. The event marked an important step in promoting inclusive, community-centric academic work and underlined MLCU’s role in advancing socially relevant research in Meghalaya and the region.
Among those who attended the book release event included the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, faculty members, and students of the university.
The university’s board members, including former diplomat Rudi Warjri and Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, were also in attendance. Mukhim authored the foreword of the book.

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