Ouagadougou: The 14th Traditional Medicine Week is scheduled to take place in Manga from August 31st to September 5th. The 14th National Week of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (SNMTA) will coincide with the 24th African Traditional Medicine Day (JAMT) on September 5, under the theme: "Introduction of improved traditional medicines into national guidelines for disease management in Ouagadougou: challenges and opportunities for achieving health sovereignty".
According to Burkina Information Agency, the announcement was made by the Ministry of Health during a press conference in Ouagadougou on August 24, 2026. The event aims to enhance the supervision of the traditional medicine sector and promote its integration into the national health system. The program will feature an exhibition of traditional and alternative medicine products, consultations, treatments, conferences, workshops, and capacity-building sessions.
Training sessions for head nurses and pharmacists in the Nazinon region will focus on conducting investigations related to ethnomedical evidence. Additional activities include tree planting, a cross-country race followed by aerobics, a night dedicated to traditional and alternative medicine, blood donation drives, and a mobile clinic for screening women's cancers.
Dr. Kindo Esae, head of the traditional medicine and integrated care department, emphasized the need for scientific data, rigorous evaluation, regulatory authorization, quality standards, and effective pharmacovigilance for introducing improved traditional medicines into national guidelines. He called for vigilance against dangerous practices and unfounded therapeutic claims.
The Ministry of Health aims to bolster collaboration between traditional and conventional medicine practitioners through referral and recourse mechanisms. Researchers are encouraged to intensify interdisciplinary efforts to produce reliable data and translate research into innovations that meet the nation's health needs.
Dr. Kindo urged the population to consult recognized traditional practitioners and seek conventional health structures in emergencies. The ministry also called on the media to responsibly report on traditional medicine and combat false therapeutic promises.
Dr. Kindo revealed plans to integrate traditional medicine services into hospitals, allowing patients a choice in treatment options. A committee dedicated to this integration is already in place, aiming to make it a reality soon. Traditional medicine consultant Rmi Som noted that approximately 11,000 traditional practitioners collaborate with health centers, particularly during malaria and snake bite seasons.
Officials expressed concern over the proliferation of unregulated practitioners claiming expertise in traditional medicine. The Ministry of Health is working to regulate the profession to preserve and promote traditional knowledge while ensuring scientific rigor, legality, ethics, and public health protection.
Dr. Kindo stressed the importance of interdisciplinary research to produce robust data and support the responsible transformation of research into practical innovations aligned with national health priorities. The public is reminded to engage with recognized practitioners and adhere to safety rules when utilizing traditional medicine.