Gambia To Celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day

The National Traditional Medicine Programme at the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Association of Traditional Healers of The Gambia, will on the 31st of August celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day.

In a press release send to Health Matters yesterday, the manager of the National Traditional Medicine Programme at DOSH, Bubakar Sillah, stated that theme of this years celebration is  "The Role of Traditional Healers in Primary Healthcare".

Mr. Sillah stated that the Association  of Tradition  Healers of The Gambia have the honour and pleasure to associate themselves with the President Dr Yaya  Jammeh  in making this a special day in the calendar of traditional medicine, noting that since the association adopted President Jammeh as the father of traditional healers of The Gambia last year, Gambian and Non Gambian healers alike have witnessed tremendous  advancements in the health care delivery system of traditional medicine. He said among the catalogue of his achievements in the realm of healthcare which the healers hail are the construction of an academy of science and technology, discovery of medicines for infertility, prostate cancer, skin cancer and a host of diseases.

He further stated that the recent graduation of Gambian doctors from the school of medicine and the exemption of mothers and infants from the payment of fees in health facilities are a clear demonstration of President Jammeh's care for the health of Gambian and Non Gambians.

He pointed out that by virtue of the presidents untiring efforts in promoting traditional medicine the healers of The Gambia will once again use the opportunity of the commemoration of the day to reaffirm their allegiance to him as the father  of traditional medicine and pledge their unflinching  support to him in all his endeavours in nation building and the improvement of the wellbeing of humanity.