Ghana to Integrate Traditional Medicine into School Curricula

Accra – Ghana is poised to integrate traditional medicine studies into its secondary and tertiary education curricula, announced Dr. Anastasia Yirenkyi, Director of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate at the Ministry of Health (MOH). This initiative is a collaborative effort between the MOH and the Ministry of Education and aims to diminish the stigma associated with traditional medicine.

According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Yirenkyi stated the plans during the commemoration of the 21st African Traditional Medicine Day in Accra. The day is celebrated to acknowledge the significance of African traditional medicine in health and well-being in Ghana and the West African sub-region. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Contribution of Traditional Medicine to Holistic Health and Well-Being for All’. The initiative will involve training experienced traditional medicine practitioners to teach students, bridging the gap between traditional and modern medical practices. Dr. Hafez Adams Taher, representing the MOH, emphasized the vital role of traditional medicine in the healthcare system. Dr. Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative to Ghana, stressed the need for evidence-based traditional medicine approaches to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Prof. Samuel Ato Duncan, President of the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (GHAFTRAM), advocated for a hol

istic healthcare service that encompasses both traditional and modern medicine.