The 20th commemoration of African Traditional medicine day and the 23rd Traditional Medicine week celebration for Ghana was held at the National Theatre on the 17th of November 2022.
African Traditional Medicine Day is celebrated every 31 August to promote the importance of the continent’s rich biodiversity of medicinal plants and herbs in improving well-being, according to the WHO African region.
The theme of the 2022 African Traditional Medicine Day Celebration: “Two Decades of Traditional mEdicine day: Progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa”.
Giving the Thematic speech for the occasion was the former Director of Healthcare Services and Acting Director of planning and Health information of the West African Health Organization (WAHO), Dr. Kofi Busia. In his speech, he cautioned that the R&D devoid of the bad name that seeks to blame every kidney and liver problem presented at health facilities in the country on the consumption of herbal medicines. He said, “There is no Iota of doubt that the sensible use of herbal medicines like all medicines does not and will not cause kidney or liver problems, there are many incredible scientific studies out there showing the efficacy of herbal medicines.”
He also mentioned that harnessing research and development in herbal medicines can yield mouthwatering revenues for the country besides generating employment for many others. Also, it is necessary that institutions in the country that promotes herbal medicine like the Centre for Plant medicine research (CPMR), the Herbal medicine programs at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) be strengthened to develop them into Centers of excellence for rational phytotherapy in the country.
Dr. Busia enumerated the various orthodox medicines produced from plants used as anticancer agents,( vincristine) anti-malaria (artesunate ), and analgesics( morphine) that have since been in use globally. Also referencing counties that have made tremendous progress in their healthcare systems by the use of their indigenous ethnomedical knowledge and expertise as well as Conventional medicine such as Cuba and Iran, he urged that Ghana would emulate same to reap such benefits.
The Director of Health of West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) Professor Stanley Okolo, Health, he said, is a fundamental human right and humanity’s failure to provide Universal Health Coverage is a violation of this right and must be addressed with top priority in the African region. He added that Ghana among the African countries has taken the lead in the use of national evidence. With this, he said, WAHO in turn to stimulate a partnership in the sub-region with Plant Medicine research Centers to strengthen their capacities.. This will enable them to focus on the production of Herbal medicines with proven efficacy and to ensure their rational use for the benefit of the ECOWAS population.
Standing in for the Minister of Health Dr. Edward Bright Agyekum, the Director for procurement at the Ministry of health. In his speech, he mentioned that, according to the WHO, over 70% of the Ghanaian population uses some form of Traditional or Alternative medicine for their primary healthcare needs. This, he said underscores the government’s drive to integrate Herbal medicine as a viable healthcare option. He also stated the government’s efforts in integrating herbal medicine practice into the health system of the countryman-made herbal medicines services in selected government health facilities employing the services of over 100 Medical Herbalists.
Also, according to the 2021 population census of Ghana, the ratio of Traditional healers to the population is 1:400 while that for the Orthodox is 1:600. With this he said, the sector had enormously contributed to economic development and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 in poverty eradication by providing a means of livelihood for many, especially in a developing country such as Ghana.
He urged stakeholders would continue with their great work in developing traditional medicines of international standards with the support of the Ministry in other to achieve the goal of Universal health coverage by 2030.
The President of the Medical Superintendent’s Group, Ghana, Dr. Kamarudeen Korku Hussein in is speech to the congregation stated that,
“We strongly believe that stakes are clearly higher in terms of healthcare outcome and helps to make ultimate economic gains for the country if we collaborate closely with the scientific herbal practitioners”. With this, he called on all Medical Superintendents to actively support Medical Herbalists posted to various healthcare facilities in the country. He urged that such investments be made towards scientific research into herbal medicines to come about with safe and quality herbal medications. He also made mention that their facilities are in readiness to assist with any clinical trial that needs to be for the development of quality herbal medications in the country. In conclusion, he said “as you review your progress so far let your spirits not be dampened by detractors because they say “faint heart never won fair lady”. He wished the Association a fruitful deliberation and celebration.
Other notable stakeholders that spoke included; the Deputy Minister of Health Hon. Tina Gifty Naa Ayele Mensah, Acting Registrar of Traditional Medicine Practice Council Dr. Mrs. Anastasia Yirenkyi, the Chairman-elect of GHAFTRAM Prof Ato Duncan, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH), Chinese Medical Team, the Food and Drugs Authority, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Ghana Naturopathic Association and the Ghana Alternative Medicine Practitioners.
