The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has called on Ghanaian universities and research institutions to intensify their efforts in researching traditional medicine
He is urging them to intensify their research efforts in traditional medicine, a field that holds immense potential to complement orthodox healthcare systems and improve overall well-being.
Speaking at a recent conference, Minister Iddrisu emphasized the successes of Ugandan universities in traditional medicine research as a model for Ghana to follow.
He emphasized that by leveraging the rich cultural heritage and natural resources of Ghana, the nation can harness the benefits of traditional medicine to enhance healthcare delivery and promote holistic well-being.
Hon. Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting academic research.
He said “Mr. President having listen to the panelists, my charge on your behalf to Ghanaian universities and researchers is that in the next 4years to a decade, President Mahama will want to see Ghanaian University do something with traditional medicine as your contribution to the development of health and medicine in Ghana and taking advantage of what we heard from the examples in Uganda of what they done with traditional medicine with support.”
The Minister also emphasized academic freedom and pledged that university governance would remain autonomous under President Mahama’s administration.
Moreover, Ghana has already made strides in integrating traditional medicine into its healthcare system.
Institutions like Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) offer specialized programs in herbal medicine, while the University of Allied Health Sciences (UHAS) established the Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (ITAM) in 2019 to promote research and education in this field.
The Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) is another key player, conducting rigorous testing and production of herbal medicines.
Additionally, centers like the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) contribute to testing and production of herbal medicine.
Source :www.kumasimail.com / Kwadwo Owusu
