Diarrhea is one of the common illness in the village. The local people have their own definition and perception about diarrhea and its causation and effects in the community. The practices and beliefs of health had a long history and have passed on from generation to generation. Traditionally, the people described diarrhea as stomach ache or “bel pen/pekpek wara” in tok pidgin. In general, it is the faeces frequently cast-off from the bowel in a liquid form. According to e-medicine health website (2016), “Diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose, watery, soft stools with or without abdominal bloating, pressure, and cramps commonly referred to as gas”. It’s usually last few days depending on the nature or type of the illness (diarrhea). Locally, when a person gets infected or diagnosed with diarrhea, he or she may experience signs or symptoms indicating that he or she is infected or not. The signs include; vomiting, headache and inflammation.
It occurred mostly among all age group. Furthermore, a person diagnosed with bloody diarrhea may appear pale and weak in appearance. When a person frequently cast-off faeces accompany with blood, this sign indicate that the victim suffers a serious condition that needs absolute and immediate treatment. Neglect may result in death and chronic suffering. These are the signs of diarrhea and other chronical illnesses and disease within the village context. In the modern context and perceptions, “It is cause by bacteria, 5protozoa or viruses that are found in contaminated food”.
According to the locals’ framework belief, folks believes that it is caused by violation of traditional taboos, being unhygienic and also considered punishment for constant misbehave in the society. Chronic inflammation sometimes cannot be cure using common herbal remedies as it compromises with other types of beliefs and practices, therefore, it takes good number of time for the victim to be healed or to seek medical assistance from a medical practitioner, thus, leaving the victim in great chronical suffering. Sometimes through jealousy that cause such disease and other major health conditions. For instance; if a local possess an asset of great personal valuable and the family or rest of the villagers possess nothing, he/she is vulnerable to such chronical illnesses and other immoral practices as there may be an existence of jealousy among the society.
It is believed to be associated with sorcery. This type of inhuman and immoral practices seems to put greater threat on individuals to dwell within their society, thus encourage migration of locals to reside in distant places due to their health and well-being. There are other types or species of diarrhea and its vulnerability and occurrence varies across the general public or the community overall population. Almost all types of diarrhea occur in the society which include, persistent diarrhea that usually takes a week, sometimes a month, acute watery diarrhea which usually last several hours or a day and acute bloody diarrhea or dysentery.
These are the types of existing diarrhea in the community that cause health disorder among the locals. Prerequisites for traditional herbal medicine in the society includes; Guava leaves, pawpaw seeds, lime and charcoals which are frequently used as medicine to treat and cure diarrhea and other minor conditions of illnesses. It is important that this unique knowledge is executed within the society by professional healers for health and well-being of society. If the herbal remedy did fail, then it is certain to be a cursed or familial illness that passed on from the parents. It is considered a serious condition due to its incurability which post a greater threat to the community. Incantation and other traditional remedies are applicable only when sorcery, ghost or spirits are implicated.
Above methods mentioned are the only remedies still in practice within the society for both minor and major diarrheal disease and condition. The local people do resort to western health services and medical health professionals for conventional medicines and anti-biotic for treatment. If the medical expert failed to find cure or inhibit the growth of the sickness, then immediate investigation into the of the cause of the sickness is to be conducted by a person who has experienced or unique knowledge about the sickness before it gets worse. Investigation sometimes requires maximum amount of time and effort for verification and identification of the cause and best measures or alternatives required for best and suitable treatment of the sickness. Therefore, it eventually leads to death and chronic suffering. Provisions for investigation involves family to explicitly express opinions about the illness and its causes.
Based on their suggestion and alternatives, the traditional healer may apply remedies or incantation, including, interaction with ghost or spirits of the ancestors to identify cause and best measure of treatment. Incantation or spells may only apply when spirits or ghost are implicated. The spirits communicate through signs and actions which are then interpreted by the healer. Based on the signs, the healer may suggest a possible solution for treatment. Common medical plants used for treating patient includes; guava leaves, pawpaw seeds and charcoals which can be treated at homes since it is a common remedy that can be practiced by anyone. If the remedies failed did they resort to Christian leaders or pharmaceuticals available at the aid post and health centers or seek medical staff to provide prescription and medical assistance for both physical and spiritual healing.
References
- Cunha, J. P. (2016, March 07). E-Medicine Health. Retrieved August 09, 2018, from E- Medicine health web site: https://www.emedicinehealth.com
