Advantages And Disadvantages Of Traditional Medicine

1.1 GENERAL

According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2003), traditional medicine is defined as diverse health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant animal and/or mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises applied singularly or in combination to maintain well-being as well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness.

1.2 THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: ITS BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

Despite many achievements in human health care in the twentieth century many of the world’s population in developing countries lack regular access to affordable essential drugs. For these people modern medicine is never likely to be a realistic treatment option. In contrast traditional medicine is widely available and affordable, even in remote areas. Traditional medicine is generally accessible to most people. It is important for primary health care delivery and its use is widespread in developing countries (Zhang, 2000 and Tabuti, 2004).This form of medicine is more accessible to most of the population of the third world. In Uganda for example the ratio of traditional medicine practitioners to the population is between 1:200 and 1:400. This contrasts starkly with the availability of allopathic practitioners, for which the ratio is typically 1: 20,000 or less. In addition, distribution of such personnel may be uneven, with most being found in cities or other urban areas, and therefore difficult for the rural population to access (WHO,