Making judgements about whether the continued use of traditional health providers in Sierra Leone is right or wrong misses the point. The fact is it happens. Dealing with long-term health problems first means understanding how local health systems actually work and why people continue to use the providers they do.
Sierra Leone’s health system has a lot of problems—it’s underfunded, understaffed, and underequipped. It’s now facing what could be the largest crisis in its history if the Ebola outbreak rages out of control. But the health care system also poses a challenge because of the way it is set up… Read our photo essay on Slate: Where Do People Go When They’re Sick? Traditional healers versus modern clinics in Sierra Leone. [^]