SAfrican Health Minister Advocates Use of Traditional Medicines

Text of report by South African news agency SAPA website

Johannesburg Oct 20 Sapa

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Saturday [20 October] traditional medicines had huge potential to produce new and alternative treatments for serious health conditions.

“People are using traditional medicines and natural therapies in alleviating conditions associated with HIV-AIDS, diabetes, malaria and other serious health conditions affecting them,” said Tshabalala- Msimang.

She was addressing traditional healers involved in a project of planting indigenous medicinal plants in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal.

“South Africa is blessed with a rich heritage of indigenous medicinal plants whose potential is yet to be fully harnessed.”

Tshabalala-Msimang said the Department of Health, along with traditional health practitioners and government, would ensure that the land in Ndaleni in Richmond would be properly maintained and utilised. [Tshabalala-Msimang has in the past drawn international condemnation for her promotion of beetroot and garlic as treatment for AIDS.]

Originally published by SAPA news agency website, Johannesburg, in English 1124 20 Oct 07.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Africa. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.