As previously noted, finding alternative approaches to help us overcome the current challenges facing Botswana’s health care system is a matter of urgency. With more and more people accessing the already strained health care system, while Government grapples with rising medical costs, drug shortages and inadequate staffing, the question becomes how will an increasing number of people get quality care at a cost that the taxpayers can afford?
The answer in part lies in the incorporation of traditional medicines and herbs into the mainstream health care system. Traditional medicine has got so much to offer to improve the health and wellbeing of people at minimal cost.
Unfortunately, Botswana is lagging behind other countries in terms of appropriate legislation and research efforts with regard to the development of traditional medicines and herbs. This is ironically the case notwithstanding the fact that many Batswana routinely consult and partake of traditional medicines and herbs. Whereas people have tended visit traditional healers under the cloak of darkness today as more and more people are now more assertive and open about their identity and actions. The stigmatization which came about as a result of the advent of Christianity is slowly but surely being eroded.
Botswana as a country is endowed with indigenous medicinal plants which have over the years been exploited by traditional healers for administration to patients. Though there is no collated and documented scientific data to vouch for the efficacy of the herbs, oral defense by traditional healers and their usage by large numbers is testimony enough to convince would be skeptics that people have survived through traditional medicines and herbs for ages without any known side effects as is the case with modern medicine.
The only medicinal plant in Botswana that has since been patented is the Devil’s claw which is considered to be an all purpose herb. The exclusive rights are with a German company which finds no obligation to pay any royalties to the Government and/or people of Botswana despite the fact that they continue buying the harvested plant from locals.
By way of contrast, in Ghana, following the enabling piece of legislation by the government, Africa First LCC, an NGO, has gone all out to develop and promote traditional medicine because of the importance it attaches to this venture. It has acquired its own farm where it is propagating various medicinal plants. Africa First LCC is networking with local traditional herbalists, botanists, agriculturalists, conventional medical practitioners and other relevant bio-medical institutions within Ghana and overseas in applying both indigenous knowledge, and scientific technology for the manufacture and dispensation of affordable, safe and efficacious natural medicines (Daniels, U. 2007) to deal with current and emerging diseases.
Though there are concerns that a growing herbal market and its commercial benefit might pose a threat to biodiversity through the unregulated over of the raw material for herbal medicines and other natural health care products (Robbins, C. 1999), Africa First LCC has endeavored to planting and protecting threatened plants from extinction. Ginger, miracle berries, moringa oliefera are some of the medicinal plants that make up the list of Africa First LCC package. Perhaps, Somarelo Tikologo in Botswana could take the cue from Africa First LCC and China, and come up with an initiative that will compel government to support it.
Since 1949 China’s political leadership has consistently advocated for the use of traditional Chinese medicine as medical care for the masses (Schroeder (2002) and in 1955, a research centre was established for Traditional Chinese Medicine. However it was not until the late 80s and early 90s that any comprehensive regulation was created. After forty years of non regulation the national government began a widespread effort to standardize TCM products, education and distribution, both domestically and internationally. This move is largely attributed to a growing demand for alternative treatments.
China recognizes the potential profit of TCM trade. According to Xinhua News Agency of October 21, 2006 the TCM industry had a total production value of 81.03 billion Yuan (US$10.1 billion) which accounted for a quarter of China’s overall medical industry in 2005. In 2010, the value of TCM exports from China reached nearly US$2billion (People’s Daily, 2011)
Affordability and accessibility
Traditional medicine should be promoted and integrated into the mainstream health policy of developing countries in view of the vast numbers of people who resort to traditional medicines and herbs. The great majority of Africans routinely use the services of traditional healers for primary health care with an estimated 85 per cent in Sub Sahara, reveals some sources. The Angus Reid Report of 1997 which followed a survey on 1200 adults in Canada shows a growing popularity of alternative medicines amongst Canadians and this account for 42%.
Traditional medicines and herbs treatment is affordable and this is why previously in Botswana only those in the lower strata of the economy accessed it (Kayawe, 2011). Nowadays even the elite, otherwise considered educated are involved in accessing traditional healers for help. There is no secrecy in consuming traditional medicine any more.
Efficacy of traditional medicines
Though in some quarters, the effectiveness of traditional medicines and herbs continues to receive negative perceptions and attitudes, there is no doubt that traditional medicines and herbs are potently effective as is exemplify by the large number of people who continue to use it for different purposes. The study carried out in Uganda is testimony to this observation. The study revealed that the predominant reason for traditional herbal medicine use was that patients simply wanted to relieve symptoms they experienced which allopath or conventional medicine could not address.
In view of the challenges besetting Botswana health care system it is, therefore, my ardent hope that we move forward by incorporating traditional medicines and herbs into the current health care system. This will of course require political will and commitment. Other nations have for long considered this viable option and intensified their efforts in harnessing their resources to incorporate traditional medicines into the fold of their health system. China has for years been at it and is legal. Other countries have just started on this journey and the American health care system is moving towards integrating alternative medicine.
Why then should be Botswana be left behind? By the time she comes to, the requisite technology costs would be just too exorbitant to contemplate. Left for too long the situation might lead to a complete paralysis of the health system. Botswana has to be proactive to minimize compromising the current system of health care for which she prides herself and is the envy of many in the Sub Saharan region.
The first step therefore is for the government to enact a law that will set the stage for other activities to ensue. An enabling environment conducive to various stakeholders to shape the way forward will facilitate the envisioned program and can be unbundled as follows:
Enact an Act of parliament regarding the use and practice of traditional medicines and herbs;
Establish a regulatory institution whose task will be to document traditional medicines and herbs; register and license traditional practitioners;
Establish an industry in partnership or as a government parastatal to process, package and distribute traditional medicines for domestic and international markets;
Patent all indigenous plants, herbs and medicines unique to Botswana; and
Intensify research and development of traditional medicines and herbs;
Sensitize the masses on the proper preservation and conservation of the environment to tackle issues of deforestation and desertification due to indiscriminate harvesting; and
Address issues of stigmatization through robust programs.
