African Traditional Medicine: Improving its Legitimacy with Legality

Abstract

Traditional medicine is a part and parcel of African culture. In 2002, the WHO recognized that about 80% of Africans depended on traditional medicine for their health problems. Hence, WHO recommended that governments should incorporate traditional medicines into their NHS so as to improve on primary health care. Since then, the process of acceptance and integration of traditional medicine into the NHS by African governments has been done slowly with reluctance. They cited some issues with the practice of traditional medicine which prevent integration. However, with the legitimacy that traditional medicine enjoys, the public continues to use it for their health care challenges. Traditional medicine was also used to fight against covid-19. This article intends to examine how the legitimacy of traditional medicine can be improved by adding legality to it. Methodologically, it does a thematic study and a review of literature. Its analysis is qualitative in form. Traditional medicine is widely practiced in Africa. Having recognized the worth of traditional medicine, most African governments have allowed the public use of traditional medicine because of advocacy and its wide acceptance which gives it a legitimate status. The provision of higher quality services by traditional health care providers will be improved if legality is added to the legitimacy that it already has. Having proven its worth in the fight against covid-19, it should have a status that will make it more professional, productive and proactive in improving the health care of its users.