Abstract:
Every human community replies to the challenge of maintaining health and giving illness
by developing a medical system based on indigenous philosophies, beliefs and experience that
are passed from generation to the next. The aim of this study is to explore and investigate the
indigenous beliefs and healing practices among Opo community in Wankey and Mera.
Qualitative approach was employed with ethnographic as study design. Purposive sampling was
used to select an indigenous healers, local elders and patients on the individual and group based
to generate the data from participants. In general, twenty nine participants were participated in
the study process. The methods used in data collection was different tools and triangulated for
their trustworthiness and rationality purpose: such as key informants interview, observation and
focus group discussion. The data were analyzed by using descriptive method and/ or qualitative
approach. The finding of the study show that cultural context of the community in relation to
indigenous beliefs and healing practices in health care system is significant in providing health.
Local elders, indigenous healers and patients were involved in the series of discussion on how
health care system and healing knowledge acquisition toward maintaining their health among
community members. Opo ways of life, livelihood and their health is influenced by the culture
and natural surroundings. This indicate that the knowledge rest on their culture and natural
environment. This study also reveal that the role of indigenous beliefs of local healers and
patients among Opo community in Wankey and Mera toward the indigenous medicines is
essential for their health and healing in local health care systems. Moreover, this study indicated
that the indigenous knowledge of healing contribute to the delivery of services to prevent and
cure illness to the community. The knowledge acquisition is passed from the parent to children
depending on who is interested to take skill from the specialist. The government should provide
the necessary support and help to indigenous healers and community elders in sustaining the
knowledge. Basically, there is a need to understand the indigenous beliefs and healing practices
among Opo community dwelling in Gambella Regional State .
