CPMR launches 50th anniversary celebration
The Centre for Plant Medicine Research (CPMR) has launched its 50th anniversary with a call on stakeholders to strengthen collaboration to promote plant medicine research and products in the country.
Held on the theme, “Health and Wealth Power of Plants: Five decades of innovation in plant medicine research and development”, the celebration seeks to harness the healing power and wealth of plants with the right support and partnerships.
Activities lined up for the event included lectures on the legacy and achievements of the Founder of CMPR, Dr Oku Ampofo, the role and contributions of the centre towards national healthcare and a lecture titled “ has Ghana done enough for traditional medicine?”.
Others are an exhibition, debate, health screening exercise, fun games, workshops, climax of anniversary, awards ceremony and a thanksgiving service.
Herbal medicine research
At the opening ceremony in Accra last Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, commended the centre for its work in herbal medicine research and for developing over 30 herbal medicines for diseases such as malaria and diabetes, typhoid and hypertension, which were being used in district hospitals across the country.
He acknowledged the economic opportunities within the herbal medicine industry and commended the center for its role in the 24-hour economy initiative to establish a production facility.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Director in charge of Traditional and Alternative Medicines, Ministry of Health, Dr Anastasia Yirenkyi, he urged the centre to continue its collaboration with the National Vaccine Institute and development partners to establish a snake farm, which will result in the country becoming self-reliant in anti-venom production.
He called on the centre to pursue strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally, to enhance its research capacity and commercial potential.
The Board Chairman of CPMR, Henry N. Rockefeller, said the Centre was focused on traditional medicine, which served 80 per cent of the country’s population, with a practitioner-to-patient ratio of 1:400, compared to 1:4000 in orthodox systems.
The Executive Director of CPMR, Professor Alex Asase, pointed out the growing global interest in the herbal medicine industry, and said the CPMR was capable of transforming medicinal plant resources into products for both domestic and export use.
Support
The Guest Speaker at the event, Dr Alfred A. Appiah, called for more attention on herbal medicine and the integration of traditional medicine into the country’s national health system.
He suggested a national target and strategy to develop at least two herbal products annually, and said there must be strong collaboration, fair benefit sharing among stakeholders to raise herbal products to global standards.
The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, also stressed the importance of collaboration and partnership, and pledged his support for the center's future, advocating self-help and government collaboration to further advance the field of plant medicine.
Acknowledging the government's limitations and the need for the community to support the center's efforts, he called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
