Harare, 21 May 2012 –- Experts from about 20 countries of the WHO African Region and partners agencies today started a three-day workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe, on research and development of traditional medicine particularly for the treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, sickle-cell disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

According to the progress report on the African Traditional Medicine Decade 2001-2010, 22 countries have carried out research and development activities on traditional medicines used for the treatment of the above-mentioned diseases; 12 countries have issued authorizations for marketing of traditional medicines; and five countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and Mali) have introduced traditional medicines in their national essential medicines lists.

Furthermore, 17 countries have compiled monographs of medicinal and aromatic plants as part of setting the standards for efficacy and safety. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana and Nigeria have established plant-based national pharmacopoeia while the African Association for medicinal norms has established the plant-based African pharmacopeia.

Addressing the opening session, the Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Health Dr Mombeshora, stated that research and development on traditional medicine products require a serious commitment on the part of all stakeholders and the establishment of regional and subregional centres of the excellence that will support the countries to pool their resources. With a global medicinal plant market whose commercial value is estimated at US$ 60 billion, investing in traditional medicine will enable our countries to generate considerable resources and, ultimately, reduce poverty, said the Deputy Minister of Health.

He urged countries to establish, in a win-win partnership, mechanisms for protecting intellectual property rights and traditional medicine knowledge in order to prevent continuing exploitation of African biodiversity. Continuing his address, Dr Mombeshora noted the significant progress made in traditional medicine research and development and thanked WHO for its technical support.

When she took the floor on behalf of the Regional Director for Africa, the WHO representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Custodia Mandlhate, emphasized the growing trend of demand for traditional medicine which is the first-line course of treatment for an estimated 80% of the population of developing countries. She deplored the fact that data on the safety, efficacy and quality of the majority of traditional medicines are limited. WHO and governments should ensure that medicines used by the populations are safe, efficacious and of good quality, Dr Mandlhate added.

She went on to encourage countries to pursue the ongoing efforts especially in strengthening collaboration between the practitioners of traditional medicine and conventional medicine. She felt that the collaboration was crucial to promoting safe, efficacious and quality products. She concluded her address by assuring countries of WHO continuing support towards promoting research and development in regard to traditional medicines.

The main objectives of the workshop are:

• to assess the progress made in research and development of traditional medicines used for the treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, sickle-cell disease, diabetes and high blood pressure;
• to enable experts to share their experiences in the protection of intellectual property and African biodiversity;
• to contribute to updating the WHO Regional strategy on promoting the role of traditional medi-cine in health systems.

(*) Participating countries: Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

(*) Partner agencies: PROMETRA, WAHO, ARIPO, African Union Commission for Scientific and Tech-nical Research, Nongovernmental Organizations involved in the promotion of traditional medicine.

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For further information:

Media contact: Flavienne Issembè – Cell phone: + 263 779949657 (WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo) / + 47241 39352; Wendy Julias – Cell phone: + 263 772431408 (WHO Office, Harare - Zimbabwe)

Technical contact: Dr Ossy Kasilo – Cell phone: + 263 775291418 (WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville Congo) /+ 47241 39268