Pdf role of traditional medicine in primary health care. There is lot of conflict of interest exciting between traditional, alternative medicine practitioners and conventional practitioners in ghana in the management of prostate cancer obu 2014. Factors such as new ageism and struggles to assert cultural identity may be the driv ing force behind the growing interests in traditional medicine in some parts of the world. Ictm 2020 covers different topics related to traditional, chinese and integrative medicine and encourages researchers and practitioners to submit their abstracts and research works.
Introduction traditional medicine is the ancient and culturebound medical practice which existed in human societies before the application of modern science to health. Traditional medicine by marian ewurama addy the traditional health care system in ghana is a holistic one that integrates our social ethics, religious morals and cultural values. Use of herbal medicines to induce labour by pregnant women. Fifthly, there is a need to reexamine some of the underlining reasons for the current popularity of traditional medicine in ghana and other african countries. Overview on medicinal plants and traditional medicine. Herbal medicines in african traditional medicine intechopen.
In ghana, as in most african countries, it is estimated that more than 60% of the population uses traditional medicine in many instances to help meet some of the primary health care needs. Pdf use of traditional healers and modern medicine in ghana. An act to establish a council to regulate the practice of traditional medicine, to register practitioners and licence practices, to regulate the preparation and sale of herbal, medicines and to provide for related matters. According to the world health organisation who the definition of traditional medicine may be summarized as the sum. Traditional african medicine is a traditional medicine discipline involving indigenous herbalism and african spirituality, typically involving diviners, midwives, and herbalists. Traditional medicine also known as indigenous or folk medicine comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine.
While discourses on the future of traditional medicine in ghana increasingly assume integration into the formal health care systems to be a fait accompli, very little attempt is being made to under stand the social contexts in which knowledge about traditional medicine is passed on from one gener ation to another in contemporary ghana. In latin america too, several countries are working to provide modern and traditional health care sidebyside see modernising traditional medicine must work for locals. Use of traditional medicine in middleincome countries. Traditional beliefs play major role in ghanaian health. In some asian and african countries, up to 80% of the population relies on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. Pdf the role of traditional healers and primary health care. The use of traditional medicine by ghanaians in canada bmc. Traditional medicine is contrasted with scientific medicine. Traditional medicine, modern medicine, integration, health care, survey introduction in ghana, the two main medical systems which have operated distinctively along each other are modern scientific medicine msm and traditional medicine tm1. Ghanas drive to transform traditional medicine into a potent vehicle for healthcare delivery has been on track since the 1990s. Committee on development and intellectual property cdip thirteenth session geneva, may 19 to 23, 2014 country study on innovation, intellectual property and the informal economy. Pdf recognition and integration of traditional medicine in. African governments, including those of ghana and nigeria, are rolling out educational campaigns and launching anticounterfeiting technologies to better monitor drug.
Totweneabu, traditional and alternative medicine directorate, moh mr. Based on the participant observation combined with in depth interview method, a longitudinal study was designed to determine the longer term trends in the reproduction of the knowledge and practice of traditional medicine in contemporary ghana. Traditional african medicine and its role in healing in a. A household survey in ghana n 47 found that 83% used modern medicine as their first choice when they had need for health services, whereas only 12% chose traditional care, of which 5. It includes diet and herbal remedies, while emphasizing the body, mind and spirit in disease prevention and treatment morgan, 2002. The formation of the ghana psychic and traditional healers association in 1961 and the establishment of the centre for scientific research into plant medicine in 1975 attest to this fact. Such acculturation of immigrant groups occurs as part of the interaction of immigrants with mainstream culture. Oral literature encompasses fables, folktales, legends myths and proverbs. A literature search of published articles, grey literature and unpublished. Traditional medicine policy preface and introduction in ghana successive governments have recognized the importance of traditional medicine. However, indigenous knowledge about herbal medicines of many ghanaian cultures has not yet been investigated. This event has now fully set the stage for the legal promotion, development, regulation and control of traditional medicine practice in ghana. Use of traditional medicine by hivaids patients in kumasi.
Herbal medicines remain integral part of indigenous health care system in ghana. However, in ghana, colonialism and external orientation have had a negative influence on traditional medicine trm. Tm plays a very important complementary role in healthcare delivery systems in ghana as between 7080% of ghanaians depend on tm for their primary health care needs 24 and therefore it has a high level of cultural. In china, for example, traditional herbal preparations account for 30%50% of the total medicinal consumption. An overview of perspectives and challenges find, read and cite all. Industrial utilisation of medicinal plants in developing countries, nonwood forest products ii. This chapter is about the role of indigenous traditional medicine hereafter referred to as itm, traditional medicine in ghana. Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine tcam refers to a set of healthcare practices indigenous or imported that are delivered outside of the mainstream healthcare system. Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in africa, john wiled and sons limited, chichester. Request pdf use of traditional healers and modern medicine in ghana purpose.
Thomas appiagyei, pharmaceutical society of ghana dr. In specific cultures, these people go by their local names, depending on their tribe, such as sangoma or inyanga in south africa, akomfo, bokomowo in ghana. A survey completed by whos roll back malaria programme showed that in ghana, mali, nigeria and zambia, around 60%. In ghana, around 70 percent of the population sees traditional medicine as a desirable and necessary means of treating problems that western medicine cannot adequately remedy.
Perceptions of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine among conventional healthcare practitioners in accra, ghana. Use of traditional healers and modern medicine in ghana. Use of herbal medicines to induce labour by pregnant. It was at this time that the whos traditional medicine programme was established. Traditional medicine and medical practitioners remain important because of the dearth of public facilities and the tendency for ghanaians to patronize indigenous and modern systems simultaneously. Ghanas fight to preserve traditional medicine work the world. The practice of traditional medicine varies widely, in keeping with the societal and cultural heritage of. The role of traditional healers and primary health care in south africa article pdf available in health sa gesondheid 42 february 1999 with 5,631 reads how we measure reads. Customary treatments for disease focus equally on supernatural causes, the psychosociological environment, and medicinal plants. George owusu essegbey, director, science and technology policy research. In all countries of the world there exists traditional knowledge related to the health of humans and animals. To gain understanding of the use of traditional and modern medicine among. Traditional, or herbal medicine in ghana is a big deal. In fact, according to the who 70% of ghanas population depend exclusively on traditional medicine for their health care.
Ghanas ministry of health is preparing a bill for parliament that would require patents for tradi tional medicine. In fact it is estimated that 80% of the population uses traditional medicines. A case study of nkusukumekumfienyan traditional area of the central region. Traditional medicine is an important component of the health care system of most developing countries. Perceptions of traditional health practitioners in capricorn district, limpopo province south africa qualitative 8 traditional health practitioners agapanthus and typhasp otoo p et al.
Documentation of herbal medicines used for the treatment. Because this form of medicine is the most affordable and accessible system of health care for the majority of the african rural population, the african union declared 2001 to 2010 to be the decade for african traditional medicine with the goal of making safe, efficacious, quality, and affordable traditional medicines available to the vast. Establishment and functions of the traditional medicine practice council. At the last count, the who estimated that there were around 100,000 traditional medicine practitioners including spiritual. The ghana centre for scientific research into plant medicine act,1975. The ghana traditional medicine practice act, 2000 page 1. It is usually practised by traditional or spiritual healers. Traditional herbal medicine in ghana prepared by dr.
Ghanas fight to preserve traditional medicine work the. Herbal medicine in ghana and most african countries is a very popular method of health care darko, 2009. A historical overview of traditional medicine practices. Sickness in ghana has been traditionally viewed as affecting ones entire being, including the spiritual and supernatural, therefore it takes more than just the physical to heal. Global situation, issues and challenges traditional medicines have always played a key role in world health and continue to be used to treat a vast array of conditions and complaints. We believe that the health of an individual has a link with the metaphysical and supernatural world.
Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use in. Use of traditional medicine by hivaids patients in kumasi metropolis, ghana. In many parts of rural africa, traditional healers prescribing medicinal plants are the most easily accessible and affordable health resource available to the local community and at times the only therapy that subsists. The world health organization who defines traditional medicine as the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to. The formation of the ghana psychic and traditional healers association in. Practitioners of traditional african medicine claim to be able to cure various and diverse conditions such as cancers, psychiatric disorders, high blood pressure, cholera, most venereal diseases, epilepsy, asthma. The ghana centre for scientific research into plant medicine act,1975 the ghana traditional medicine practice act, 2000 the nigeria herbal medicines and related products labelling regulations 2005. Medicinal plants used in the treatment of mental and. Scientific sessions of traditional medicine conference 2020.
Public perceptions of the role of traditional medicine in. The african continent experienced its own form of training and learning before it was colonized and even before the arrival of the missionaries. Research category foundations collection cipit related law. Experts of traditional african medicine case to have the capacity to cure different and differing conditions, for example, growths, psychiatric issue, hypertension, cholera, most venereal ailments, epilepsy, asthma, dermatitis, fever, uneasiness, dejection, generous prostatic hyperplasia, urinary tract diseases, gout, and mending of wounds and. So near to the people, yet so far away from basic health care system article pdf available may 2016 with 4,082 reads how we measure reads. For example, the ghana federation of traditional medical practitioners association ghaftram was established in 1999 to help modernize, restructure, and regulate the traditional medical industry in the country. Jul 03, 2011 following the growing demand for tm and the contributions of the medicine to the overall health delivery system particularly in africa, some authors have suggested that traditional medical system be integrated into the mainstream of health care services to improve accessibility to health care see erinosho, 1998, 2005, 2006. Jun 16, 2008 research into health and healthcare seeking behaviour amongst immigrant populations suggests that culturallybased behaviours change over time towards those prevalent in the host culture. In ghana, mali, nigeria and zambia, the first line of treatment for 60% of. Abankwahyeboah, pharmaceutical manufacturers association of ghana mr. Trends and challenges of traditional medicine in africa. In ghana, traditional medicine, particularly herbal medicines, is an important component of the health care system of the people 2. Yet, so many stereotypes exist for the traditional healers and their medicines that are collectively called muti.
Traditional medicine features in the lives of thousands of people in south africa every day. Traditional medicine has maintained its popularity in all regions of the developing world and its use is rapidly spreading in the industrialized countries. Pdf on jan 1, 2010, unnikrishnan payyappallimana and others published role of traditional medicine in primary health care. Herbal medicine in ghana, as in most african countries, is a very popular health care system. Documentation of herbal medicines used for the treatment and. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and.
Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions. The ghana federation of traditional medicine practitioners associations was formed to serve as a unifying body for the different categories of. What are the roles of spirituality in the traditional healing process in ghana. Precolonial period by the end of the 16 th century, most ethnic groups constituting the modern ghanaian population had settled in their present locations. This study examined the acculturation of ghanaian immigrants in greater toronto area canada. Use of traditional healers and modern medicine in ghana request. These forms of medicine have existed alongside each other for quite a while. When adopted outside its traditional culture, traditional medicine is often considered a form of alternative medicine. Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practises based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. African traditional medicine list of high impact articles. Traditional herbal medicine in ghana history and current. Ghaftram has members from all parts of ghana, working together towards advancing the development of tams. The use of traditional medicine in maternity care among.
In 1992, the traditional and alternative medicine directorate was established with the ministry of health managed by a deputy director to strengthen and offer the required direction to the improvement and promotion of ancient medicine in ghana with special emphasis on herbal treatment. Overview on medicinal plants and traditional medicine in africa. When an african gets sick, a lack of trained doctors or medicine leads many to traditional practices, especially spiritual cures, some using religion, and appeals to ancestors. Indigenous traditional medicine in ghana springerlink.
The traditional healers promote traditional african medicine, a form of holistic health that combines spiritual beliefs and herbalism to treat patients. Traditional medicine who regional office for africa. Between 20 and 30% of the ghanaian medicinal flora was. The dynamics of innovation in traditional medicine in ghana. The paper examines the processes of recognition and legitimization of traditional medicine in ghana and indicates that in ghana, indigenous medicine has been used as an instrument to help develop political consensus and consciousness and in the. The parliament of the republic of ghana institution established by this law the traditional medicine practice council country.
Medicinal plants for forest conservation and healthcare, fao, rome, italy. Discourses on the future of traditional medicine in africa and other indigenous societies often assume government recognition and integration into the formal. Knowledge and uses of african pangolins as a source of. Public perceptions of the role of traditional medicine in the health care delivery system in ghana razak mohammed gyasi corresponding author department of geography and rural development, knust, kumasi, ghana. The aim of the present study was to document herbal medicines used by traditional healers to treat and manage human diseases and ailments by some communities living in ghana.
The inception, evangelization and missionary activities of christianity and islam in nkusukumekumfienyan traditional area in the central region of ghana resulted in the conversions of the indigenous people, mainly, from african traditional religion atr to. Establishment and functions of the traditional medicine practice council 1. The working definition of traditional medicine in ghana may be obtained from a draft strategic plan document for traditional health care in ghana. There is a paucity of literature describing traditional health practices and beliefs of african women. As a result many people use both orthodox and traditional medicine treatments depending on what is wrong with them at a point in time. The training systems of africans such as the traditional schools did exist, but most.
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