THE Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, has asked traditional healers to position themselves well and expose the quack ones within their ranks for the rest to gain recognition.
Inaugurating the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association (GHAFTRAM) in Accra, Mr Mettle-Nunoo said traditional medicine ensured complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being, adding, however, that “the real challenge facing its development is the lack of official recognition”.
The association was founded in 1960 to create a platform for traditional healers to contribute to healthcare delivery.
The deputy minister said traditional medicine was deeply ingrained in the socio-cultural beliefs of the people and could, therefore, be described as inherently democratic and traditionally of the people, for the people and by the people. It had also gained public acceptance because of its effectiveness.
He said there were reasons for traditional medicine to be promoted and integrated into mainstream health care.
The National President of the association, Torgbe Hunua Dunyo, said the association was thankful to the government for promulgating the Traditional Medicine Practice Act for the control and development of traditional medicine in Ghana.
He petitioned the government to take special interest in and make more resources and funds available to the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine at Mampong Akuapem and other research institutions for the documentation of all aspects of traditional medicine and healthcare knowledge systems and practices.
Published in Daily Graphic on July 24
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