WHO Urges Countries To Work Towards Unlocking Power Of Traditional Medicine
Muhammad Irfan Published August 17, 2023 | 11:40 PM
The head of World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Thursday urged countries around the world to work towards unlocking the power of traditional medicine and provide evidence and action-based suggestions that can be integrated into a global strategy
UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Aug, 2023 ) :The head of World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Thursday urged countries around the world to work towards unlocking the power of traditional medicine and provide evidence and action-based suggestions that can be integrated into a global strategy.
Speaking at the event which is taking place in the Indian city of Gandhinagar, he underscored the "enormous" contributions of traditional medicine to human health and its understanding of the "intimate links" between health and the environment, according to a press release issued at UN headquarters in New York.
Tedros stressed the importance of the gathering for "bringing together ancient wisdom and modern science for the health and well-being of people and planet".
Echoing his words, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that traditional medicine is not opposed to modern medicine, but rather complementary.
Recalling that traditional medicine was "as old as humanity itself", the WHO chief noted that many modern drugs trace their roots to ancient healing practices.
He gave the example of bark from the willow tree, used by Sumerians and Egyptians as a pain reliever and an anti-inflammatory over 3,500 years ago. "Then in 1897, the chemist Felix Hoffmann synthesized aspirin and the drug has gone on to improve, and save, the lives of millions of people every day," Tedros said.
He also cited a 1971 breakthrough for malaria remedies, when China's Tu Youyou read about the use of sweet wormwood to treat fevers in traditional Chinese medical literature.
This led her team to isolate the compound artemisinin, which has become the "backbone" of malaria treatment.
The WHO Director-General insisted that far from being a thing of the past, traditional medicine is the object of growing demand worldwide. He highlighted its importance for mental health, healthy aging, and preventing and treating non-communicable diseases.
"This is not a new area for WHO", he said, recalling that back in 2014, the organization's Member States approved the first global ten-year strategy for traditional medicine, adding that a new strategy will be developed by 2025.
Through the summit - and the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine launched in the Indian city of Jamnagar last year - the UN agency has been working to "inform policies, standards and regulations for the safe, cost-effective, and equitable use" of traditional remedies, Tedros said.
He urged countries to examine how best to incorporate traditional and complementary medicine into their health systems and "unlock (its) power through science and innovation".
The WHO chief said that the Gujarat Declaration, which is expected to be adopted by the end of the summit, has the potential to enhance the "appropriate integration" of traditional medicine into states' healthcare services.
WHO wrote on the social platform X that their work aimed to bring evidence and scientific validation around traditional medicine so that millions of people around the world who use it "understand whether it's safe and effective and are better protected".
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From World
-
Football: French Ligue 1 results - collated
7 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
17 minutes ago -
European Champions Cup semi-final result
27 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
27 minutes ago -
Tennis: WTA Madrid Open results
27 minutes ago -
Formula One: Miami Grand Prix sprint race results
37 minutes ago
-
Barca have 'huge amount' to change next season: coach Xavi
37 minutes ago -
Haaland 'back to business' with four-goal haul in Man City rout of Wolves
47 minutes ago -
Newcomer Bellingham Madrid's driving force in La Liga conquest
57 minutes ago -
Girona players have made history, says coach after reaching Champions League
57 minutes ago -
Reus begins farewell tour while Bayern stumble in Stuttgart
1 hour ago -
Real Madrid La Liga title win in numbers
2 hours ago