Professionals call on Herbalists to expose quack practitioners

NDA, Industrial training professionals call on Herbalists  to expose quack practitioners

BY AMBROSE GAHENE

Uganda legally recognized Associations of Herbal medicine practitioners have been called upon to expose masqueraders posing as traditional herbal practitioners. The call was made by professionals from the Directorate of Industrial Training  (DIT) and the National Drug Authority (NDA) during   launch of assessment and training packages for the occupation of Herbalists, at Kampala Imperial Royale Hotel on Friday

 Patrick Byakatonda, the director at DIT, told Herbalists’ Associations to be on the lookout for quack herbal practitioners to guarantee the health of Ugandans and instill trust in the population which approaches them for medication on different ailments.   

“ For us at the Directorate of Industrial Training have done our part to make you professional, by putting in place training packages for recognized herbalists. It’s up to you to expose masqueraders in the Herbal medicine sector”, he said. He pointed out that  DIT trained Herbalists shall get qualifications recognized by the Government.   

“DIT develops assessment and training packages which are aligned with the Uganda  Vocational qualifications framework observing competence based education and training”, he added.

David Mwesigwa, Secretary to NDA said the World Health Organization (WHO)  and Ugandan Laws recognize traditional  medicine, which is why the Government is committed to professionalizing herbal medicine practitioners. He advised those engaged in herbal medicine to ensure standards are adhered to.

Dr David Sseruka, Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics ( PRESIDE) project representative and Chief Guest at the function, said training packages should ensure sustainability and continuity of herbal medicine development in Uganda. He said Uganda is endowed with a wide variety of medicinal plants, which puts the herbal medicinal research at an advantage.  

“This is an opportunity for scientists to jump on the wagon and contribute towards research on herbal medicine”, he said.