An Overview of the Traditional Medicine Situation in the African Region

"WHO estimates that about 80of the population in developing countries depends on traditional medicine for their Primary Health Care (PHC) needs. Traditional medicine and its practitioners were officially recognized by the Alma Ata Declaration in 1978 as important resources for achieving Health for All. Since then; member states and WHO governing bodies have adopted a number of resolutions and declarations on traditional medicine. Notable among these are resolution on ""Promoting the role of traditional medicine in health systems: A Strategy for the African Region"" adopted by the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Ouagadougou; Burkina Faso; in 2000 and the declaration on the Decade of African Traditional Medicine (2001-2010) by the Heads of State and government in Lusaka in 2001. This article will focus on the achievements of countries in the implementation of the priority interventions of the Regional strategy since its adoption in 2000. The article will also cover the challenges countries are facing in implementing the Regional strategy and propose the way forward."

Development of Human Resources for Health in The WHO African Region: Current Situation and Way Forward

Human resources for health (HRH) are widely recognised as the most important assets and pillar of any health system. However the African Region is faced with severe shortages of this important human capacity. This has resulted in weak health systems with a limited capacity to achieve their national health goals. The problem is more severe in rural and remote areas where most people typically live in the countries in the African Region. This paper provides information about the efforts and commitments by Member States and the various opportunities created by Regional and global partners; including the progress made. The paper also explores issues and challenges related to the underlying factors of the HRH crisis; such as chronic underinvestment in health systems development in general; and specifically in human resources for health development; migration of skilled health personnel as a result of poor working conditions and remuneration; lack of evidence-based strategic planning; insufficient production of health workers and poor management systems