Pregnant Ghanaian women warned against the use of certain herbs

Elmina, Feb. 3, GNA- Ghanaian women have been warned against the use of certain herbs as purgatives, or for strengthening their blood circulation when pregnant, because this could lead to miscarriage.

The herbs, which are considered dangerous for use as purgatives, Include, 'akyeampong, 'edrubrafo' 'adaadze' and 'emoro', while those found dangerous for enhancing blood circulation are' haatso' and 'koklodzo'. Dr Richard Quainoo, a naturopathic, and director of the 'Agrata Natural Health Centre', made this known at a 'continuing medical education' forum organised by the Central Region division of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) at Elmina on Monday.

The forum, which was under the theme: " Private Practice in Health Care Delivery", brought together public and private medical practitioners and health care personnel, to brainstorm as to how best the two sectors could collaborate to enhance health care delivery. Members of the media, and representatives of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) were also present to determine their roles in health care delivery, at the forum, which was necessitated by the division's concern about the proliferation of advertisement of unapproved herbal drugs in the print and electronic media.

Dr Quainoo, who spoke on, " Traditional Medicine Practice in Health Care Delivery", further cautioned against the use of herbs for the treatment of fibroids and hernia, and urged herbalists to immediately refer any such conditions to the hospitals when they are brought to them.

The naturopathic, however, pointed out that man's knowledge of the healing properties of plants, dates back to "tens of thousands of years" and that herbs, which have been found to be "effective and safe, have been passed on from generation to generation", and that the WHO, estimates that about 80 per cent of the world's population, relied on "natural health".

He dismissed the notion that herbal preparations have no formula, and explained that such drugs have side effects, depending on their preparation, and that it was important for all herbalists to know the percentage of herbs to use in order to reduce their level of toxicity.

He said for instance, 'akyeampong' leaves, which are also used by some women and girls to abort pregnancies, contain a lot of iodine and could destroy one's liver.

Dr Quainoo, who also demonstrated the application of radionic (computer) medicine for the diagnosis and treatment of aliments and diseases, stressed the need for orthodox and herbal practitioners to collaborate to improve health care delivery, and called on scientists and researchers, to help refine herbal products, since the use of herbs, are imperative in health care delivery.

He was happy that the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), had started a programme to train herbalists. more

The deputy Regional Director of Nursing Services, Mrs Bertha Boakye-Agyemang, said a survey conducted in the region between 2000/2001, showed that, most women used herbs, and that about 84 per cent of them used them in the last stages of their pregnancies.

She expressed concern that maternal deaths, which could be attributed to the use of some herbs, were rather blamed on witchcraft and curses and that it was the belief that the victims, had failed to seek spiritual protection, or that they had died because someone envied them for being pregnant.

She said some women, either on the advice of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) or family members, on the strength that herbs were "safe and tested", used them to facilitate the growth of the foetus and for easy delivery.

Mrs Boakye-Agyemang, who spoke on "Some Effects of Herbal Practice on Pregnancy in the Region", also mentioned some of the herbs as 'akyeampong', 'nyanya' 'ntropo' and pawpaw leaves. She pointed out that though herbs have been used over the years, their pharmaceutical and toxicological properties have not been researched into and it was therefore dangerous to use them excessively, since several complications stem out of their usage.

She said to stem the practice, TBAs, have been advised against the use of herbs, but observed that health workers, should not adopt a "dismissive attitude" towards herbal care, and called for more research into plant medicine.

A private medical practitioner, Dr David Ghartey, who dwelt on " The Role of Private Practice in Health Care Delivery", advised his colleagues in the sector, to help facilitate improved health care delivery by referring to the public heath institutions, conditions that they have neither the equipment nor personnel, to handle.

He said it was imperative for them to recognise their limitations, and to refrain from taking on cases that endanger the health of patients.

He called on the government to establish a system whereby those in the sector, could work on part time basis at the public health institutions, to enhance health care delivery and to include private medical practitioners in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), as well as in the exemption policy.

According to him, private medical practitioners, who for instance, provide care for the poor, should be reimbursed if they are able to produce appropriate records as having provided such care. Dr Ghartey, who runs the 'Baiden-Ghartey Memorial' hospital at Cape Coast, also complained about "unfavourable government policies like high taxation."

To help stem the exodus of doctors, he suggested that on completion of their training, new doctors, should be given credit facilities to enable them to procure the basic necessities, as a motivation to stay on and serve their country.

Ms. Mercy Acquaye, regulatory officer, drug evaluation and registration department of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), spoke on " The Role of the FDB in Media Adverts on Health Care Delivery". She educated the forum on the guidelines on drug advertisements and on the various punitive measures for flouting such guidelines. She expressed concern that herbal drug manufacturers were circumventing the guidelines which, among others, state that no drug advertisement, shall contain words like magic, miracle or exotic descriptions such as super potency or such other words as to induce daily and continuous use of the product.

According to her many such manufacturers were flouting this and several regulations of the FDB, and were cunningly advertising their products in the media under the guise of sponsoring programmes. The regional chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Mr Ebo Sackey, who spoke on "The Role of the Media in Health Care Delivery",

tasked media houses to refrain from letting monetary considerations take precedent over the health of the people, with regard to the advertising of such drugs.