All sub-Saharan countries, including Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, face a severe HIV and AIDS epidemic. As many authors have already suggested, one solution to this crisis is to take advantage of the existing traditional health practices in the region. Lucia Smith of African ClinicalResearch Organisation examines the SADC (Southern African Developing Community) project, created with the purpose of building the capacity of traditional health practitioners (THPs) in the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, and hence to optimise their role as healthcare providers in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.