SOUTH CAPE NEWS - African Traditional Medicine Day is celebrated today, 31 August.
The day was established to promote the use of indigenous medicinal plants combined with aspects of African spirituality and commemorates the day in 2000 when the ministers of Health adopted the relevant resolution at the 50th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
According to the department, about 80% of Africa's population relies on traditional medicine for their basic health needs. In many cases, traditional medicine is the only healthcare service available, accessible and affordable to people on the continent.
Finn Rautenbach from the Garden Route Botanical Garden agrees that African traditional medicine plants have played a huge role in the medical discipline.
"Many Western medicines have been derived from indigenous plants and this tells you that traditional medicine is not to be ignored. Raw traditional medicine can be used for various purposes, such as colds and stomach problems. However, it also important that you have a proper knowledge of how to use it, to avoid complications," said Rautenbach.
The South African government has committed itself to the involvement of traditional healers in official health care services, including several types of health care practitioners that can be broadly categorised as diviners, herbalists, faith healers and traditional birth attendants.
The government also took steps towards the official recognition and institutionalising of African traditional medicine by establishing a directory of traditional medicine within the department of health.
Rautenbach says the Garden Route Botanical Garden has about 20 different species of traditional medicinal plants that the public and traditional medicine practitioners can have access to.
"We are open to the public who would like to harvest traditional plants, in a conserved and controlled environment, so that we, the future generation, can also access it."
Meanwhile, the South African Healers Association has cautioned against fake traditional healers who prey on vulnerable people. This follows after a man walked into a police station in KwaZulu Natal on 21 August and told police that he is tired of being a cannibal, producing human body parts to prove his point.
This incident lead to the arrest of three more men, one of whom is believed to be a traditional healer.
The Garden Route Botanical Garden is located at 49 Caledon Street, George, and borders the Outeniqua Nature Reserve. They can be contacted on 044 874 1558.
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