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Traditional African medicine grows in popularity across continent amid challenges

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      Traditional African medicine grows in popularity across continent amid challenges

      2024-08-13 21:56 Last Updated At:22:07

      Traditional African medicine, which combines indigenous herbal remedies with spiritual practices, is seeing a growing preference in many parts of Africa, even as it faces challenges such as regulation, malpractice and the presence of fraudsters.

      This time-honored practice, deeply embedded in the continent's diverse cultures, involves a wide array of healing methods, including the use of medicinal herbs, plants, foods and rituals.

      According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 80 percent of Africans rely on this extensive and varied system of healing.

      Interestingly, a growing number of individuals who have used modern medicine are considering a shift, primarily due to high costs.

      However, traditional medicine faces significant challenges. Issues such as regulation, standardization and the presence of "quacks"—unqualified individuals posing as legitimate practitioners—are major concerns.

      Ruth Nyangacha, deputy director at the Center for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research (CTMDR) within the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the national body responsible for carrying out research in human health in Kenya, highlights the need for legal frameworks to ensure the proper regulation of traditional medicine.

      "Without any hesitation at all, I would say that Kenya is very keen in having laws that regulate traditional and alternative medicine in Kenya. And because we know that when there's legislation, there's provision for having regulation and standardization of these traditional and alternative medicines. There's also provisions for criminalizing malpractice in the profession, and there is provisions also for conservation of medicinal plants that are used in this practice," she said.

      She also points out that the infiltration of quacks undermines the credibility of traditional medicine.

      "When we talk about quacks, what happens is that we are also thinking about what happens to these products, so you find that when there's malpractice, there's a possibility of intentional adulteration of these products with even conventional medicine," Nyangacha said.

      "For example, we just finished a study whereby we were looking at herbal formulations indicated for diabetes and cancer in the country and we collected samples from Nairobi and Eldoret. And we were able to see that some of these samples had metformin, which is a conventional drug for diabetes. So it looks like the patient is getting better, but in a real sense, maybe this medicinal product is laced with some of these drugs, sometimes it's just laced with a pain killer," she explained.

      Organizations such as the Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH) are working to address these issues by educating the public and promoting the authentic benefits of traditional medicine amidst a flood of misinformation.

      KEMRI reports a growing body of scientific research supporting the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants. To fully unlock the benefits of traditional medicine in Kenya, experts advocate for comprehensive legislation, regulation, research and collaboration in all matters pertaining to traditional medicine.

      Traditional African medicine grows in popularity across continent amid challenges

      Traditional African medicine grows in popularity across continent amid challenges

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      Death toll rises to 126 in 6.8-magnitude Xizang quake

      2025-01-08 00:02 Last Updated At:03:17

      A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Tuesday morning, killing 126 people and injuring 188 others, according to figures released at 19:00 on Tuesday.

      The earthquake hit Dingri County in the city of Xigaze at 09:05 on Tuesday, with the epicenter located in the county's Tsogo Township.

      Rescue forces from different emergency services have rescued 407 trapped people, set up 14 relocation and resettlement sites, and relocated and resettled more than 30,400 people affected by the disaster.

      Municipal-level hospitals in the region are currently treating 28 critically injured patients.

      Twenty four medical rescue teams with 568 people and 106 ambulances were dispatched to the region to carry out transfer and treatment work, with all those requiring treatment admitted to hospital.

      More than 5,800 pieces of relief supplies, including cotton tents, cotton clothes and quilts, urgently allocated by the National Disaster Reduction Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration arrived at the quake-stricken area on Tuesday night, with 16,000 more pieces of relief supplies expected to be delivered on Wednesday.

      More than 170,000 pieces of urgently needed supplies including tents, beds, quilts, blankets, warm clothing, heating equipment, emergency lightning, and food and water were also urgently dispatched to the affected area.

      The region's emergency command center on Tuesday also raised the earthquake emergency response to level I, the highest level.

      Death toll rises to 126 in 6.8-magnitude Xizang quake

      Death toll rises to 126 in 6.8-magnitude Xizang quake

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