Having
regard for high professional ethics and codes to ensure public safety is key,
the safety of the general public needs to be given utmost and high priority if
we are to develop as a nation.
The
recent surge in the number of ads for traditional medicines and medicinal
products in The Gambia is alarming. This has in fact prompted the Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare to place a ban of ads of tradition medicines as per
Section (21) of the Medicines Act 2014 of the Ministry of Health.
We
all know the use of herbal medicinal products and supplements has increased
tremendously over the past years with not less than 80% of people worldwide
relying on them for some part of primary healthcare. However, the manner and
spate in which most of the ads are broadcasted on our local media are not only
alarming but worrying.
Inasmuch
as the use of traditional or herbal medicines continues to expand rapidly
across the world with many people now resorting to these products for treatment
of various health challenges, it should not be an excuse to place ads on the
media without having abide by the rules and regulation governing Medicines Act
of 2014 in the country.
What
is indeed alarming is the fact that some of these ads contravene the Consumer
Protection Act 2014, Section 12 (regulation 1) which states “advertisement
shall conform to the rules of decency, sincerity and shall not exploit
superstition, ignorance or fear.”
Many
people have been tricked in the sense that they are made to believe that
certain herbal medicines could cure certain ailments, which proves to be false.
It is true that most of the FM radios these days are inundated with local ads
promoting particular marabout or local herbs which ought to be stopped. Certainly,
any successful healer or marabout would not need any form of ads to sell
his/her products, if he or she is truly a good healer. As a country, we need to
put things in the proper order if we are to make any meaningful progress.
Though,
some of these ads generate income for those media houses they normally placed
their ads on, but this is matter of public safety. The interest, health and
safety of the general populace supersede that of any individual or group.
“I
have been asked what would I ban immediately if I could. Advertising.”
Vivienne
Westwood
