Evolution Of Ghanaian Traditonal Medicine Flashcards
What is neoherbalism
What is it characterized by?
What does the extent of modification depend on?
It may not be unusual to find what?
Neoherbalism is a system of healthcare that is underpinned by the use of herbal medicines devoid of the spiritual connotations and typically administered by practitioners who have been trained in a semi-fully formal setting.
• Neoherbalism is an improved version of traditional medicine, characterised by the downplay of the intangibles in the practice.
• The extent of modification varies depending on the practitioners worldview.
• It may not be unusual to find a blend of aspects of biomedicine, traditional medicine & the spiritual.
What are the features of neoherbalism
Neoherbalism:
• Practitioners with some form of formal education or semi formal education
• e.g. Senior Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
• Practitioners trained at institutions that are well structured or bear the
semblance of such.
• Practitioners blend biomedicine with aspects of traditional medicine.
• Some may include the “spiritual” not as a medium of divination but as part of holistic care.
What are the primary drivers of evolution?
These factors affect what?
Spirituality tends to have a limited influence as society advances.
• Separation of the spiritism from health.
True or false
The primary driver is the change every society undergoes:
• Increased access to formal education
• Changes to the social structure
• Increased economic power
• Development of new theories, ideas and understanding
• These factors affect our world view/reality- construct.
•
What are the drivers of evolution in Ghana from the precolonial to colonial era (state the negative and positive factors or drivers)
The changing socio-political stratosphere started the process of rethinking the direction for our traditional model of healthcare delivery. True or false
Drivers of the Evolution in Ghana
(Precolonial to colonial era)
• Some factors negatively impacted the course of traditional medicine.
• The contact with Europeans and subsequent colonialization.
• The introduction of Christianity.
• The outlawing of traditional medical practices (Native Customs Regulation Ordinance of 1878).
• Contact and the influence of allopathic medicine and the expansion of such facilities.
• Others factors were a positive influence.
• The growth in nationalism and the rejection of imperial ideologies.
•
What are the drivers of evolution in Ghana in the post colonial era (state the positives and negatives)
Drivers of the Evolution (Post-colonial era)
• This era was characterised by a lot of positives:
• Increased political desire to make Africa self-dependent.
• Removal of all elements of imperialism.
• Recognition of the deficit and limited access to the mainstream care facilities. • Increasing access to education.
• Exposure to biomedicine.
- Negatives:
- Continued dominance of allopathic medicine.
What are the roles of neoherbalists in healthcare
Role in Healthcare
• Contributions are most significant at the primary healthcare level.
• Neoherbalists have been used to provide services such as:
• Prenatal and postnatal care.
• Provision of first aid and management of “simple” medical conditions for remote communities.
• Role out of essential vaccination and immunisation programmes.
• Implementation of disease prevention and control programmes.
Name six examples of neoherbalists
What is medical herbalism (ghanaian context)
Medical herbalism is one of the offshoot from the evolution of traditional medicine in Ghana true or false
The model of medical herbalism is synonymous to what?
The model of medical herbalism is framed in biomedicine and retains what?
• Dr. Gottlieb Noamesi: Noamesi Laboratories • Dr. Anthony Normeshie: Health for All Clinic, Oworam near Asamankese. • Adom Herbal Clinic. • Top Herbal Clinic. • Lucky Herbal Clinic. • Nana Kwaku Bonsam???? • The Great Okomfo Appiah??? • Nana Otafre Gya??? • Centre of Awareness (COA)
Medical herbalism is defined by the application of herbal medicines as treatment backed by scientific evidence.
•.
• The model is synonymous to phytotherapy, clinical herbalism.
• The practice is framed in biomedicine and retains very minute elements from the traditional medicine practice.
In Ghana the concept of medical herbalism can be traced to who?
What did he do?
What time did he leave the government practice to establish his private practice ? And where did he establish it? He was credited with what
In Ghana, the concept of medical herbalism can be traced to Dr. Oku Ampofo who was a Medical Doctor.
• Dr. Oku Ampofo created the space for traditional medicine practitioners to collaborate with their orthodox counterparts in the delivery of healthcare.
• Around 1940 he left the government practice to establish his private practice in Mampong-Akuapem.
• He credited with the documentation of numerous medicinal plants and their formulation for the treatment of several ailments.
The collaborative effort between what three bodies led to the start of the primary health training for indigenous healers programme (PRHETIH) in Techiman around what time?
This programme is aimed at what two things?
The collaborative effort between the MOH, Ghana and the CPMR, Mampong-Akuapem led to the start of the Primary Health Training for Indigenous Healers programme (PRHETIH) in Techiman in the early 1980s.
• This programme aimed to provide biomedical primary healthcare training for indigenous healers to improve their methods.
• Also increase the interaction between traditional medicine practitioners with their orthodox colleagues.
What are the attributes of medical herbalism
Medical Herbalism:
• Practitioners are trained in a tertiary institution or quasi tertiary institution**.
• Practitioners have knowledge in all areas of the health sciences.
• Practitioners have their practice based on biomedicine and treatments are
herbal medicines usually finished herbal products.
• The treatments applied by practitioners have various levels of scientific
evidence to back their use: in vitro, in vivo & clinical.
• All products used by practitioners meet the regulators requirement for traditional medicine products.
What is the tool for integration of traditional medicine services into the mainstream healthcare system
How many herbal clinics are around the country
This is a vast improvement on the existing systems of what?
Ministry of Health has established herbal clinics within the existing healthcare structure to provide this service true or false
Medical Herbalism & the Integration
process
• Medical herbalism is the tool for the integration of traditional medicine services into the mainstream healthcare system.
•.
• Currently over 50 of such clinics exist all round the country.
• A vast improvement on the existing systems of either private traditional medicine services or the CPMR, Mampong-Akuapem.
What are the differences and/or similarities between neoherbalism and medical herbalism.
When was the traditional medicine policy drafted
This policy covers all areas for what?
What does this policy involve
Which directorate is responsible for policy formulation and implementation to ensure development of traditional medicine
Which act gives mandate to the TMPC for regulation and registration of practices
Policy and Regulatory Framework
• Traditional Medicine policy drafted in 2005. Covers all areas need for the promotion of traditional medicine.
• Practice of traditional medicine.
• Formalisation of the training of practitioners.
• Research and development.
• Quality assurance of products.
- Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate (TAM-D) is responsible for policy formulation and implementation to ensure the development of TM.
- TMPC Act 575 gives mandate to the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) for the regulation & registration of the practices.
Which Act gives the FDA the mandate to regulate and register traditional medicine products?
Which policy helps w promotion of access to quality drugs and rational use of drugs including herbal
Medicines?
Which act is used for the regulation of practices that are involved in the care of mental health patients such as the faith healers/prayer camps?
What binds practitioners to ensure the protection of patients ?
Public Health Act, 2012 gives the FDA the mandate to regulate & register traditional medicine products.
• National Medicines Policy, 2017 for the promotion of access to quality drugs and the rational use of drugs including herbal medicines.
• Mental Health Act, 2012 for the regulation of practices that are involved in the care of mental health patients such as the faith healers/prayer camps.
• Code of Ethics that binds practitioners to ensure the protection of patients.
How different is the ‘classical’ form of traditional medicine from the ‘modern/neo’ traditional medicine.
• Do these differences hold any advantage or disadvantage for each form of the practice.
• Do you agree with the view that insists the ‘classical’ traditional medical system should be the vehicle for the process of integrating traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare.
