By: Bernard K Dadzie
The General Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) under the Ministry of Health, Nana Kwadwo Obiri has reminded and cautioned all unlicensed and illegally operating practitioners and facilities to take steps to regularize their operations with the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), failing that would attract severe sanctions as provided by the law.
For this reason, GHAFTRAM has instituted a monitoring team aimed at clamping down on persons who have taken to the streets and Transport stations selling unregistered herbal medicine in public.
He spoke to Oyerepa TV/FM reporter Bernard K. Dadzie on the sidelines of the Traditional Herbalist Association of Ghana (THAG), Annual General Meeting held in Accra, said GHAFTRAM is ready to create a taskforce to deal with those who are destroying the good use of herbal medicine.
Nana Kwadwo Obiri who spoke on behalf of the GHAFTRAM president Professor Samuel Ato Duncan stressed that failure of the unlicensed and illegally operating practitioners to regularize their operations will face severe sanctions for contravening the law.
He reminded all traditional and alternative medicine practitioners and premises that it is mandatory for all practitioners to be licensed and accredited by the FDA.
Dr. B.K. Asare, president of the Traditional Herbalist Association of Ghana (THAG) is pleading with the government to support them in terms of their product registration.
He indicated that the cost involved in the registration is too much which makes it difficult for some herbalists to register their medicines. So there is a need for the government to pay at least some percentage of the cost involved in registration.
Traditional Dr. Asare who was speaking to Oyerepa news, called on the government to extend the National health insurance scheme to their herbal hospitals to be able to generate income to support their business.
He argued that integrating traditional medicine into health systems expands the reach and improves outcomes of community health care.
Dr Simon Agyemang Duah, Welfare chairman, of the Traditional Herbalist Association of Ghana
urged Ghanaian women to stay away from family planning medication and also reduce the intake of contraceptives which can cause so many dangerous diseases.
Traditional Dr. Agyemang Duah CEO of Agyenco Herbal advised women to go in for herbal medicines for family planning instead of the contraceptives. And also encouraged everyone to adopt the habit of eating fruits in the morning and evening. He advised the public to mind what they eat, and also eat more fruits and vegetables.
Source: Oyerepafmonline.com
