AN INTROSPECTION OF AN INDIGENOUS HEALING SYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE KASENA OF NORTH EASTERN GHANA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

This thesis investigates Kasena indigenous medicine and health delivery systems and their relevance to the present health needs of the people. The Kasena are located in the Navrongo, Chiana and Paga municipal districts of the Upper East Region. A total of forty two (42) respondents were purposively sampled and interviewed. The study was carried out with the aid of interviews. focus groups, observation, as well as review of relevant literature. The study revealed that Kasena broadly categorizes illness into natural and spiritual illnesses and that natural illness are treated or prevented with natural therapies while spiritual illnesses are prevented or treated with both spiritual and natural therapies. The study also revealed that indigenous health systems were the main health service available to the Kasena before the arrival of western medicine and that Kasena medicine continues to meet some of the health needs of the people. This knowledge of Kasena medicine, herbs in particular is widely defused and most of the herbs can be found within a walking distance from the community. In addition. Kasena indigenous healing is holistic, and seeks the unity of physiological, psychological as well as the spiritual well-being of its clients. The study therefore, finds that Kasena indigenous medicine is still an important source of health care for the people despite improvement in modern health services. It is therefore recommended that Kasena healers as well as households be encouraged and supported to keep backyard gardens of medicinal plants, Kasena healers should get themselves organized with a leadership to enable them get the needed training and support from stakeholders. The technical and pharmacological aspects of Kasena medicine should be identified and supported but since spirituality plays a central role in the life of the Kasena and Ghanaians in general, it is important that such support should not ignore issues of spirituality even if there are no empirical evidence but work on the technical and pharmacological aspects of Kasena medicine and healing forms.