Minister asks traditional healers to certify their services

Accra, Oct. 28, GNA - Mr Rojo Mettle Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, on Thursday asked traditional healers not to make categorical statements about their services until the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) had conducted clinical trials on them.

He also asked the Traditional Medicine Practice Council to bring sanity into their profession by enforcing their code of ethics. Mr Nunoo was addressing the practitioners at a day's conference organised by the New Agenda Foundation, a non- governmental organisation.

It was aimed at integrating the practitioners into the health delivery system. The Deputy Minister said government recognises the role of traditional medicine hence the need to regulate their practice. Answering a question on the alleged harassment and arrest of traditional healers by the FDB, he said although he was not comfortable with the operation, the board must be allowed to weed out the charlatans.

Mr Kwesi Boakye, Executive Director of the Foundation said the conference was aimed at making the participants to understand the need for regulation to bring sanity into their practice. In Interview with the Ghana News Agency, Head of Public Relation, Mr James Lartey said the FDB has not erred in regulating activities of the practitioners, quoting section 16 of the FDB law. He said the law forbids adverts for the treatment and cure of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/ AIDS, heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, kidney stone, hernia, pneumonia, Tuberculosis, small pox among other ailments. Mr Boakye said it is the duty of the Board to protect public health and safety.