The ability to use indigenous languages and traditional practices directly affects the wellbeing of community members. Thus it is imperative that multilingualism and multi-culturalism are embraced to offer better health provision, recognizing traditional systems of medicine, as well as promoting social cohesion and delivering humanitarian responses, especially during health crises, and natural disasters. 

Challenges

Strategies

Integrate indigenous knowledge into health care practices

Actions	Actors
Integrate traditional healers into national health system
Integrate traditional medicine and practices into national health system
Train health workers in Indigenous knowledges (midwife, traditional birth practices, nutrition, healing)
Create awareness amongst health care workers and patients on dual health system to facilitate integration and acceptance

Ensure communication in indigenous language in health services

Actions	Actors
Train health care workers in Indigenous languages
Provide consultations in Indigenous languages (either provide translator or personnel speaks Indigenous languages)
Translate medical forms and reports in Indigenous languages
Translate health educational material in Indigenous languages
Health campaigns in Indigenous languages

Revive indigenous community-health practices

Actions	Actors
Encourage community to use traditional health practices
Create awareness on dual heath system
Establish community health centres with resources (information, medicine, etc)

Enhance mental health and well-being

Actions	Actors
Integrate traditional practices into communal mental health services
Translate mental health educational material in Indigenous languages
Train mental health care workers in Indigenous languages
Train mental health care workers in culturally sensitive mental health practices
Programs to strengthen mental health and well-being through cultural empowerment
Offer mental health services in Indigenous languages

Initiatives

N/a’an ku sê Lifeline Clinic

Efforts to break a vicious cycle for language, culture and healthcare provision