African traditional healing in the context of contemporary health care system

In 1977 the WHO gave formal recognition to the importance of the African traditional health care system and has encouraged African countries to make the practice more formalised to ensure quality and better service delivery (Truter 2007:60; WHO 2001). 

They were subsequently officially recognised by the Alma Ata Declaration in 1978 as important resources for Achieving health for All (WHO 2010:7).

According to the WHO (2000):

Some African countries are locally producing traditional medicines used for various diseases such as chronic diarrhoea, liver disorders, amoebic dysentery, constipation, cough, eczema, ulcers, hypertension, diabetes, malaria, mental health and HIV/AIDS in order to improve people's access to medicines. (p. 2)

Because of the important role African traditional medicine has played and is playing in Africa and beyond, some countries and institutions of higher learning have put research into Plant Medicine and the training of traditional medical practitioners as part of their degree programmes. 

In Ghana, for instance, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, has established the Department of Herbal Medicine in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The University of Ghana has done the same by establishing the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine. 

In order to ensure quality traditional herbal medicine in the market, the Akropong Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine was established. Currently, in Ghana, some of the public hospitals have also opened centres for herbal medicine where people can access health care with the backing of the Ministry of Health of Ghana (Ministry of Health 2012).

In South Africa, a Traditional Health Practitioners Bill of 2003 was drafted. Certain sections of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act, Act 35 of 2004, came into operation on 13 January 2006. Efforts are furthermore ongoing to develop a pharmacopoeia of traditional medicines (Truter 2007:60). 

In Kenya there has been collaboration between the herbalists and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). 

Some of the African herbs have been analysed in modern laboratories and certified to cure certain ailments. African herbs are also being dispensed in liquid, tablet or powder form in well packaged containers. Some traditional medicine-men are doing extensive research and coming up with new medicines (Mumo 2012:118).

Although not all African traditional healers are making use of the current scientific approach of preparing their medicines and healing processes, there is, however, the need for governments, ministries of health, Western medical practitioners, and traditional healers to come together for dialogue. 

This will help to build trust, to educate one another through workshops, and to come to a consensus in addressing the health issues from a holistic and broader perspective. This would also encourage Western medical practitioners to refer patients that require spiritual attention to some of these traditional healers and vice versa. 

This dialogue will also help to ensure safety, quality and efficacy of traditional medicinal products, practices and to regulate practitioners.
 
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