Make use of science & technology -Herbal medicine practitioners urged
The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), is urging herbal medicine practitioners to avail themselves of the vast advantages of science and technology to improve on the efficacy, storage, packaging and storage of their products.
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Rev. Prof. Charles Ansah observed that majority of Ghanaians depended on herbal medicine, and improvement in its production and dispensary would help ameliorate the suffering of the sick and also increase the revenue of the practitioners.
Rev. Ansah, a Professor in Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, made the call when he addressed the opening session of a one-month intensive training programme for herbal medicine practitioners at the Pharmacy Department of the KNUST.
He urged the practitioners to open up their medicine for improvement.
Sponsored by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) through the Skills Development Fund, the programme was anchored on “Quality Herbal Product Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship for Improved Productivity and Competitiveness”.
It was attended by 300 traditional medicine practitioners from the Greater Accra, Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions.
Widespread use
Quoting from sources of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Rev. Ansah noted that majority of the people did not have access to orthodox medicine, and, therefore, relied on traditional medicine, hence the need to position herbal medicine practitioners to offer the best and efficacious medicine.
He noted that there had been tremendous changes in the manufacturing, storage and dispensation of herbal medicine, and said that until recently, herbal medicine was not stored in bottles and other containers.
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The Head of Department of Herbal Medicine, Dr Kofi Annan, told the Daily Graphic that the continuous training of the practitioners was crucial because most of them, after learning the practice through apprenticeship, did not upgrade their knowledge.
He outlined the areas of training for the participants to include cultivation, propagation, storage and conservation of herbal medicine, as well as the adverse and toxic reactions of herbal medicines.