Govt permits herbal treatment in hospitals

Herbal medicines approved by Chief Government Chemist   will be permitted in health centres the government has announced.

Commissioner of Social Welfare, Danford Makala made the announcement during the opening of an international African trade fair on traditional and natural medicines on Monday in Dar es Salaam.

Organised by the Tanzania Trade Develo
pment Authority (Tan Trade), Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Forum for Traditional Medicines, this is the first time the exhibition is been held in the country.

The fair seeks to improve corporation between traditional and modern specialists in medical treatment.

Makala said the government acknowledges the importance of traditional and natural medicines and will continue to create conducive environment to enable advance and promote discoveries in the field.

“We know very well how these traditional and natural specialists and medicines help our people that’s why we are going to increase our support to them whenever they need it,” Commissioner of Social Welfare Makala pledged.

He urged the traditional and natural medicines specialists to make the best use of the exhibition to educate Tanzanians on the importance of their services and restore public trust.

Chairman of the exhibition preparatory committee, Boniventure Mwalongo said the trade fair provides an arena for traditional medicine practitioners to display their products and educate visitors on their use.

He said many people have lost trust in traditional medicines in the country due to proliferation of dishonest elements who masquerade as herbalists to con the public.

Another reason that has made people lose trust in traditional medicines is the lack of proper dosage and measurements.

“I assure the public that there are quality products here that meet required standards…the medicines are safe for human consumption,” Mwalongo reassured wananchi.

Participants at the exhibition include traditional doctors, midwives, distributors of traditional and natural medicine, traditional food processors and operators of clinics that deal with traditional and natural medicines.