Experiences and Challenges of African Traditional Medicine: Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic

Overview

Journal BMJ Glob Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2023 Aug 9

PMID 37558269

Authors

Polydor Ngoy Mutombo

Ossy Muganga Julius Kasilo

Peter Bai James

Jon Wardle

Olobayo Kunle

David Katerere

Charles Wambebe

Motlalepula Gilbert Matsabisa

Mohammed Rahmatullah

Jean-Baptiste Nikiema

Immaculee Mukankubito

Rick Sheridan

Rokia Sanogo

Veeranoot Nissapatorn

Chaisith Sivakorn

Satyajit Tripathy

Ramesh Goyal

Mahaveer Dhobi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Management of COVID-19 in Africa is challenging due to limited resources, including the high cost of vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices and routine pharmaceuticals. These challenges, in addition to wide acceptability, have resulted in increased use of herbal medicines based on African traditional medicines (ATMs) by patients in Africa. This is in spite of the often-significant gaps in evidence regarding these traditional medicines as to their efficacy and safety for COVID-19. African scientists, with some support from their governments, and guidance from WHO and other bodies, are addressing this evidence gap, developing and testing herbal medicines based on ATMs to manage mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. Such efforts need further support to meet public health needs.

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