Gov't to support research into traditional medicine

Members of the Association of the Promotion of Traditional Medicine (PRO.ME.TRA), Ghana, on Monday, called on government to give more support to research into traditional medicine.
Togbe Dabra VI, President of the Association, who made the call, said though government did support traditional medicine, "it is not encouraging".
Togbe Dabra VI said this at a press briefing in Accra on the recommendations made at a regional meeting held in Ouagadougou from June 23-25.
The meeting, he said, brought together participants from Ghana, Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Burkina Faso.
He noted that the potentials in the use of medicinal plants were enormous and that the most common diseases treated with it included malaria, skin infections, respiratory infections, diarrhoea and gynaecological infections.
"It is, therefore, necessary for the State to increase its activities to strengthen collaboration between associations and state agencies that are into this business so that we would all together move the health of the nation forward", he said.
Togbe Dabra said many member countries had started the cultivation of medicinal plants, which Ghana was yet to move into, even though, a pilot project had started in the Northern Region.
The Association recommended the cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants while protecting the indigenous knowledge and intellectual property of traditional medicine practitioners.
"It would also be appreciated if teaching of traditional medicines is introduced in our medical school's programme and create more botanical gardens".