NAIROBI – African countries should take advantage of traditional medicine that has proven effective in managing and curing diseases that afflict the population of the continent, said an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.
The Director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, underlined the critical role of herbal medicine in reducing the burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases on the continent.
“Traditional medicine has been the reliable, acceptable, affordable and accessible source of medical care for African populations for centuries,” Moeti said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on the occasion of Traditional African Medicine Day 2022. .
Eighty percent of the African population relies on traditional medicine for their basic health needs, he said, adding that the continent has prioritized its development through policy enactment, research and training.
The Day of African Traditional Medicine 2022 is celebrated with the theme “Two decades of the Day of African Traditional Medicine: Progress towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa”.
In particular, Moeti said, more than 40 African countries have developed national traditional medicine policies this year, up from eight in 2000, while 30 countries have also integrated traditional medicine into their national health policies.
“In addition, 39 countries have established regulatory frameworks for traditional medicine practitioners, compared to just one in 2000, demonstrating good governance and leadership,” he commented.
Currently, 34 research institutes aimed at promoting research, development and commercialization of traditional medicine have been established in 26 countries, Moeti said.
Xinhua
