Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health said at the weekend that Ghana is in the process of introducing traditional medical practice in 17 hospitals across the country.
He said the process would help promote and protect the basic principles and objectives of traditional medicine and help eliminate the quack ones from the system.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo, made this known at an honorary awards ceremony to honour Dr Sheikh Amen Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of Amen Scientific Hospital, by the Ministry of Health of Cote d ’ivoire in Accra.
The ceremony honoured the traditional Medical Practitioner in recognition of his contribution towards health delivery in Ghana and the sub-region.
He said it was important for Ghana to recognise traditional methods of delivery, saying “we need to believe in ourselves and through the promotion of peace, the sharing of knowledge and best practices” for Africa to be the leader in quality traditional health care delivery.
“Islam has also contributed immensely to the development of medicine in Africa, but a lot still needs to be done to improve the standards of production,” he noted.
Mr Mettle-Nunoo, congratulated Dr Amen Bonsu for his immense effort and hard work, as well as his contribution to the development of quality traditional medicine practice in Ghana; and urged him as well as his teaming staff not to relent in their efforts, but work harder for the development of the country.
Mr Bernard Ehui Kotoan, Cote d’ivoire Ambassador to Ghana, said the time had come for Africans to examine and explore the area of traditional medicine in order to fine appropriate ways of improving its practice on the continent.
He said Cote d’ivoire has recognised the good work of Dr Amen Bonsu, and wants to honour him for his hard work.
“As a country and continent we have to recognise and encourage people who have performed very well and it is with regard to this that we present this honourary award to Dr Amen Bonsu, in order for him to continue to perform better.”
Dr Osafo Mensah, Former Deputy Director of the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine, said over the years, traditional medicine has played a very important role in health care delivery in the country, adding that, its potential has not been exhaustibly examined.
He said, globally the World Health Organisation had stated that about 80 per cent of the World’s population use herbal or Traditional Medicine.
“The practice of traditional medicine had been practiced by various ethnic groups in Africa in the past, saying, over 90 per cent of drugs used in hospitals today were introduced in recent years.
Mr Mensah assured the delegation from Cote D’ivoire of a partnership between their country and Ghana to build capacity and develop the heath sector through traditional medicine.
Dr Amen Bonsu, said his hospital was committed and focused on sustaining and achieving its mission and vision in order to aid the rapid growth of the herbal traditional medicine.
He said, the response to herbal medicine in the country had improved greatly, with many people choosing herbal medicine as their preferred choice of medical care.
Dr Bonsu noted that, the hospital has 14 branches operating nationwide and in Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
He said the medical facility has a well resourced production unit and research centre where all investigations into medications were done.
“Besides providing safe health delivery to our people, we are also contributing to the socio-economic growth of the country and the sub region at large. This is due to the fact that we provide jobs for the teaming numbers of youth who graduate from institutions across the country,” he said.
He expressed appreciation for the efforts and contributions of the delegation from Cote d’Ivoire towards the growth and sustainability of the herbal industry, saying, he hope to continue the collaboration to ensure the improvement of “our forefather’s medicine for socio-economic development”.
“The only way the West African countries can improve their economies, is to cut down importation and increase exports for favourable balance of payment and trade. We need to encourage and strengthen collaboration among West African countries for prosperity,” he added.**
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