Uganda is set to celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day on October 10, 2024, at Makerere University, Kampala, with the aim to regulate the quality and safety of traditional medicine in the country.
This was announced by Dr. Grace Nambatya from the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute while at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday, September 23, 2024.
While addressing the media about the upcoming event, Dr. Nambatya revealed that this year’s celebrations under the theme Traditional Medicine: Research and Development will focus on regulating the quality and safety in traditional medicine, which has seen traditional medicine become so popular worldwide, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
She highlighted improvements in packaging and training for herbalists, which have helped build consumer trust in the products used.
“Packaging has improved, as we see, because a lot has been done by the National Drug Authority, where I’m a board member. A lot of training has been done, and herbalists are being trained under the Directorate of Industrial Training,” Nambatya noted.
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Nambatya further revealed that Uganda conducted the first-ever clinical trial in herbal therapy with her as principal investigator, which is now supported by a dedicated clinical trial center at the Mulago Lung Institute.
Speaking about the upcoming event, Steven Kavuma, a retired Deputy Chief Justice, emphasized the need for forming alliances among various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and the Parliament, to effectively promote traditional medicine.
“This idea of globalization has lumped us into one global market with very big, powerful, and rich competitors. Not everybody would wish for every small person to come up and disrupt the set up in the market where they are benefiting; you must face that,” Kavuma said.
The celebration of African Traditional Medicine Day not only honors the rich heritage of traditional healing practices but also aims to integrate these methods into national health systems, enhancing their recognition and regulatory frameworks across Africa. The event will lead to a conference where researchers, including those with Master’s and PhD degrees, will present their findings on traditional medicine.
