WHO urges african countries to develop traditional medicine

The World Health Organization WHO has urged its African Member States to develop strategies for the integration of traditional medical practice into their national health care systems.

The call was made by experts attending a three-day consultative meeting on the Strategy for Traditional Medicine for the African Region (2000-2001) which ended in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday.

The meeting called on countries to make provision for the protection of the intellectual property rights of indigenous knowledge in traditional medicine and the cultivation and conservation of native medicinal plants.

According to a WHO release, participants expressed support for the proposed Regional Strategy for Traditional Medicine and called on governments to adequately fund and implement the strategy.

The Strategy, which is being developed by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, aims at assisting Member States to integrate traditional medicine into health care delivery systems and services, and to promote its appropriate and rational use.

It also envisages that by 2020, traditional medicine will be an integrated component of the minimum health care package in countries in the Region.

The meeting further recommended that action plans be developed for the implementation of the strategy at the Regional and national levels.

Participants requested WHO to provide technical and financial support for the development of traditional medicinal products in the Region for the treatment of priority diseases such as malaria, hypertension, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

The consultative meeting was attended by 23 experts from 15 countries.