Bridging traditional bonesetting and conventional orthopedic care: Tanzania conference explores community healing practices
The Tanzania Orthopaedic Association (TOA) hosted its 2025 annual conference on July 3–4, 2025 at the Arusha International Conference Centre, focusing on the integration of traditional bone setting practices with evidence-based orthopedic care.
Held under the theme “Advancing Evidence-Based Medicine in Orthopedic Surgery: A Tanzanian Context”, the conference brought together orthopedic surgeons, researchers, and other healthcare professionals. Arusha’s Regional Commissioner, Kenan Kihongosi, opened the event, highlighting the importance of aligning traditional and conventional medical approaches.
A key feature of the conference was a symposium dedicated to traditional bonesetters, who continue to play a significant role in providing fracture care, especially in rural areas. The session opened with remarks from Stella Itungu, CEO of COSECSA and board member of the AO Alliance, outlining the impact of surgical training in sub-Saharan Africa.
Presentations included:
- Claude Martin Jr (AO Alliance, Switzerland): “Traditional Bone Setting: The Carrot or the Stick?”
- Dominic Konadu-Yeboah (Ghana): “Collaboration with Traditional Bonesetters for Effective Fracture Care in Ghana”
- Mengistu G. Mengesha (Ethiopia): “Ethiopian BOSAD Project: Enhancing Awareness Through Public Education”
- Jovine Okoth (Tanzania): Overview of the Building Bridges for Broken Bones project in Shirati
- William Mgisha (Tanzania): A review of literature on traditional practices and associated complications
The symposium highlighted both the contributions and risks of traditional bone setting, offering a comprehensive view of its role in Tanzania’s healthcare system.
Panel discussions following the presentations emphasized collaboration and open dialogue. Participants explored ways to integrate traditional bonesetters into formal healthcare systems and discussed strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.
The conference concluded with calls for further engagement with regulatory bodies and the Ministry of Health to explore policy frameworks that recognize and guide traditional bonesetting practices.
TOA’s focus on community-based healing reflects a broader effort to address healthcare access disparities and improve orthopedic outcomes nationwide, particularly in underserved rural regions.
