Speech by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on African Traditional Medicine Day, Limpopo

6 September 2007

Programme Director,
My colleague, MEC for Health
Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune district municipality and other councillors present here today,
Kgoshi Boleu II Rammupudu and other Makgoshi here with us,
Traditional health practitioners,
Ladies and gentlemen

It is indeed an honour and a privilege for me to be here today to observe with you the African Traditional Medicine Day. For us as the Department of Health and as government in general, a day such as this is of major significance.

This day allows us as a people to stand tall in asserting our history and heritage as part of asserting who we are and where we come from. The effect of colonialism in banishing this heritage is well documented. Our people who practiced in this field of medicine were labelled as wizards, the practice itself was described as uncivilised and barbaric.

Today we are saying this deliberate effort to undermine traditional medicine should stop. I say it must stop because, honestly speaking, this colonial attitude towards traditional medicine still continues today. It is being championed by some groups in this country who are demanding that government should ban the use of traditional medicine in the country and arrest traditional health practitioners.

Our response to these demands is clear - traditional medicine has sustained the health of our people for hundreds of years and this government will ensure that it is developed and awarded the recognition it deserves.

African Traditional Medicine Day gives hope to the millions of our people, not only in this country, but the continent of Africa as a whole. It demonstrates that indeed, efforts are being made to create space for research, development and recognition of the role of traditional medicine in healthcare delivery on our continent.

We cannot go on pretending that African traditional medicine does not exist when in fact 80% of people throughout the continent use these medicines in dealing with diseases and other health challenges that they are faced with on a day-to-day basis.

As the Department of Health, we are on the forefront in terms of facilitating the process that will ultimately ensure that African traditional medicine is institutionalised in our country.

Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen. The acknowledgement of the significance of traditional medicine as a whole, including African traditional medicine, was displayed as far back as 1978 at the historic international Conference of Primary Healthcare at Alma Alta. It was at this stage that a recommendation was made that governments give high priority to the incorporation of traditional health practitioners and proven traditional remedies into the national drug policies and regulations.

As most of you would know, not much was done in South Africa in as far as the implementation of this recommendation was concerned given the racist attitude of the apartheid government towards African traditional medicine and African traditional knowledge system in general.

With the dawn of democracy in 1994 and the re-admission of South Africa into the international community, it became crucial for us to kick-start processes that were going to give effect to the 1978 Alma Ata recommendation. I am glad therefore to announce that indeed some amount of work has been done in this regard but there is still more that needs to be done.

Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to highlight just a few of the initiatives that have either been completed or are currently underway. These initiatives include:
* the establishment of the Presidential Task Team which is working on the broad policy framework on African traditional medicine for our country
* the Ministerial Task Team which is working together with the Medicine Regulatory Authority to facilitate the registration and regulation of African traditional medicines
* the prioritisation of registration and regulatory framework for African traditional medicine
* making funds available for the research and development of African traditional medicines to manage and control diseases, and
* the establishment of a fully staffed unit that manages the work related to traditional medicine within the Department of Health.

The finalisation of the Traditional Health Practitioners Bill, which has just undergone a rigorous public scrutiny and participation throughout the country, is probably the biggest milestone we expect to reach soon in this area. Once adopted and signed into law, this piece of legislation will lead to the establishment of the Traditional Health Practitioners Council, a body that will oversee the process of the institutionalisation and the holistic inclusion of African traditional medicine in the National Health System.

We are also considering establishing an Institute for African Traditional Medicine whose main objectives will include:
* promoting scientific validation and production of high quality safe African traditional medicines
* education and training within the African traditional medicine context
* conservation of medicinal plants and
* the equitable benefit sharing with owners of indigenous knowledge thereby contributing to the healthcare service delivery system and poverty alleviation.

Programme Director, earlier this year South Africa hosted the Third Ordinary Session of the Conference of African Union Ministers of Health in Johannesburg. One of the key objectives of this conference was the adoption of the African health strategy and once more, the issue of African traditional medicine took centre stage.

As Ministers of Health in the continent, we were required to take stock and report back on progress made in as far as the Plan of Action on the African Union Decade of Traditional Medicine (2001-2010) was concerned. Member states acknowledged the importance of mainstreaming African traditional medicine.
Arising from these discussions, we are forging ahead with the process of according African traditional medicine the dignity that it deserves in line with the 1978 Alma Ata and other subsequent declarations. Failure to do so will not only be a betrayal of the millions of our people who use African traditional medicine, but also the betrayal of our ancestors who saw and derived value from this form of medicine.

As we mark the African Traditional Medicine Day today, let us recommit ourselves to the preservation of this heritage that our ancestors bequeathed us and lay a solid foundation for future generations to continue with this heritage.

In conclusion, Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, allow me thank the Limpopo Provincial Health Department for organising this very important day for us including the tour to Dr Tsiane medicinal plant garden.

The tour was quite an eye-opener for all of us, and out of it one can only look forward with a great deal of confidence in as far African Traditional Medicine is concerned. To the traditional health practitioners present here today, once more thank you for your confidence in our leadership and we are not going to fail your expectations and those of the millions of people who are dependent on you for health and indeed life.

To our ancestors and leaders,
Sekhukhune, Makhado, Hintsa,
Ngungunyane, Shaka Ka Senzangakhona and Moshoeshoe, we shall not fail you!

Thank you very much.

Issued by: Department of Health
6 September 2007