Health Ministry Unveils 19th Traditional Medicine Week And The 16th African Medicine Day

The Ministry of Health has launched the 19th Traditional Medicine Week Celebration and the commemoration of the 16th African traditional medicine day in Accra on the theme:"Local Manufacturing of Traditional Medicine Products in the African Region ".

Over the years, traditional medicine had been the first source of health care for about 80% of the population in the developing countries.

According to the minister of health Hon. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the programme is meant to engage stakeholders and the public in multimedia information, education, and communication on the local manufacturer of herbal medicinal products to improve their safety, quality, and efficacy for posterity and to obtain official statement for the rational use of herbal medicine and medicinal plants in Ghana.

The Acting Director In Charge of Traditional Medicine, Dr. Mrs Anastasia Yirenkyi, on her part said one of the key roles of the Ministry of Health is to, protect the health of the citizens by strengthening the regulatory agencies to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products and services including herbal medicinal products, conventional pharmaceutical products and medical devices in the country.

She further said the ministry is also working together with its stakeholders and partners to provide the needed support to the members of GHAFTRAM especially in providing herbal manufacturing facilities.

The ministry is therefore urging private health facilities to work hand in hand with both practitioners to provide scientific evidence of their products and services.

Meanwhile, the celebration is to be held from 29th - 31st August at the Kumasi Technical University.