ACHIEVEMENTS

A training school  has been constructed in Makeni and one healing

center in Kono district which conducts safe and clean delivery of children. Workshops are conducted at regular intervals to sensitize people on the need to work together with the orthodox doctors in order for there to be harmony in the profession and compliment

efforts.

Several researchs have been carried out which has resulted in the cure of cancer, sickle cell, anemia, diabetes, Hypertension, STI, heart disease, various skin diseases, infertility both in males and females, weak organs, pile and all diseases which are accompanied by fever, including malaria.

The programme gets support from from the WHO and a consultant from Ghana, Professor Oppong-Boachie. He came as a consultant to help with the National Policy for Traditional Medicine.

In Sierra Leone, the Traditional Healers Association (SLENTHA) is yet to have an office space and coordinating center. The focal point for traditional healers and generic medicine has been able to obtain the following at no 13 Mayenkine Road, Calaba Town, Freetown:

An eight room flat which houses a store for cooled plant drugs (dried portions of plant) and a three room flat which would be used as laboratories. The land is owned by the current programme manager who is also head of the research unit at SLENTHA.

The manager is prepared to lease this space to the organisation for as long as it is necessary; however, this can serve as the research and coordinating center for the mean time.

The profession is faced with quacks and charlataints. They pose a threat as there is the tendency for them to misuse traditional medicine. However, there is a Bill and Code of Ethics which is awaiting approval from Parliament and Cabinet.

It is only after this approval that the programme can control traditional healers according to the law of the country, for example, the herbal vendors that parade the streets, hawking herbs. Some are herbalist while others take these herbs from herbalists to sell without knowing the use of most of them.

After the Bill must have been passed, only those certified by the Association will be allowed to practice.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

For many people, traditional medicine is seen as something ungodly and that does not have measurements or dosage. But it is as old as the culture of human race. It involves the culture of the people and can be liken to any cultural practice. This is because the knowledge of roots and plants is transferred from one generation to the other.

It developed as the human race became desperate to survive the various illnesses which they encountered. And as a result of this trial and error, many people died and many survived. This was how the idea of knowing and making a difference between poisonous and non poisonous herbs came about. After thousands of years of human existence, traditional medicine is now considered to be very safe.

In this practice, there are different types of traditional healers. They consists of the Spiritualist, the Herbalist, the Reflexotherapist, Massaging and Nutritionist.

The knowledge gained coupled with the programme manager's plant intoxication background has helped in the strive to give a facelift to the mode of practice in traditional medicine. This was also made possible by traveling extensively throughout Sierra Leone and carrying out exploration and plant collecting for medicinal use from most vegetation around the country.

Through students under the manager's supervision, ethnobotanic surveys have been conducted in a number of chiefdoms in the various provinces. As part of a team, the manager has also conducted ecological studies on the various ecologies around the country.