Health News of Thursday, 17 June 2010

Source: GNA

MOH to integrate traditional medicine in health delivery system

Ajumako (C/R), June 17, GNA - The Ministry of Health (MOH) is establishing a unit to integrate traditional medicine into the mainstream health delivery system.

The General Secretary of the Association, Elder Kwaku Owusu who made this known at Ajumako in the Central Region said a Traditional Medicine Division would be created to facilitate the programme.

He was speaking at a two-day seminar to improve the efficiency of members of the Ghana Faith Healers and Traditional Birth Attendants (GAFHTBA) on the theme: "Command and Teach these Things."

The more than 200 participants were exposed to topics like: "public speech delivering techniques," "code of ethics and standards of practice for traditional medicine," and "infections prevention and control." Mr Owusu charged members to constantly update their knowledge in traditional medicine to enable them to meet the challenges ahead. Reverend Maxwell Amedewonu, Finance and Administration Committee Chairman of GAFHTBA, spoke against people who are motivated by greed to deceive people that they have the prowess to heal diseases. He asked members of the association to speak the truth to their clients, in order to win their clients.

Rev Amedewonu warned that people who do not register with GAFHTBA would not be allowed to practice.

Mr Felix Akudugu, Disease Control Officer of Ga South Municipal Assembly, who took the participants through infection prevention and control and symptoms of some diseases, cautioned the participants against the temptation to heal diseases they are not familiar with. GNA