Indigenous Peoples’ access to Health Services
tions.32 The government of Botswana has expressed concern over the difficulties faced by providing a health care system that incorporates and respects both Western and traditional medicines. In recognition of these challenges the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples highlighted the need to enhance the understanding of and respect for traditional medicine, which continues to be practiced among indigenous communities but remains largely excluded from the government health system.
Namibia The San, the Himba (Ovatue, Ovatjimba and Ovazemba) satisfy the criteria for indigenous peoples. The loss of their lands, destitution, cultural breakdown and high poverty levels have made the San the only ethnic group in Namibia whose health status has declined since independence. Having lost their original source of food, they now depend entirely on government food aid. The health problems are due mainly to poverty and marginalization. Most of the population has poor access to health facilities. More than 80 per cent of them live more than 80 kilometres from any sort of health facilities. These facilities are expensive, and mobile outreach services are irregular and often ill-equipped to deal with complicated problems. In some cases the staff of the mobile units cannot speak any of the San languages, giving rise to the likely risk of miscommunication and wrong diagnoses.33 Namibia has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and the San are particularly vulnerable due to lack of information, low standard of living and the unavailability of adequate treatment. The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recommended measures to mitigate these negative effects. These included educating indigenous communities on health issues, which should be done in all languages in the communities concerned, allocating adequate resources to indigenous peoples’ health services, including them in medical insurance programmes, capacitybuilding, collaboration and coordination, as well as funding organizations that are working towards the eradication of diseases.34
South Africa The Khoi/San peoples of South Africa are among the poorest and most marginalized populations. There is lack of access to safe water and also high levels of domestic violence. The Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples also noted that although HIV prevalence was high in the country, there were no figures for indigenous peoples, and therefore HIV/AIDS should be considered a serious threat. The Special Rapporteur also made the following recommendations: ɜɜ The possibility of establishing a fully equipped clinic in Platfontein to serve the area; ɜɜ Health services should target the specifically marginalized indigenous communities; ɜɜ I ntroduction of drinking water to indigenous communities should be considered a priority in the development plans in the areas where services either do not exist or is insufficient.35 32
A/HRC/15/37/Add.2.
33
Country Report of Research Project by ILO and ACHPR on the Constitution of and legislative protection of rights of indigenous peoples.
34
Country Report of Research Project by ILO and ACHPR on the Constitution of and legislative protection of rights of indigenous peoples.
35
E/.CN.4/2006/78/Add.2.
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