Ouagadougou - At a major international conference held on December 22, 2023, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, key figures in traditional medicine called for unity among their ranks to achieve health sovereignty in Africa. The conference, themed 'Health and Sovereignty', aimed to foster a competitive pharmaceutical market and develop region-specific scientific and industrial capabilities in health.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was marked by significant contributions from various leaders in the field of traditional medicine. Ibrahim Diagne, head of the Senegalese organization YDNA VITA, emphasized the need for Africans to have access to local, effective, and affordable treatment options. He highlighted the importance of the conference in achieving these goals.

The conference outlined specific objectives to address health challenges in Africa. These included raising awareness about the regional epidemiological situation, the threat of new infections, and developing general biological protection measures. The attendees also focused on learning from successful health and pharmacological practices in other African and foreign countries.

Lafi Soré, founder of Hafige Bandé, underscored the knowledge base in Africa, expressing a need for laboratories to diagnose diseases and convert plants into medicinal capsules and tablets. This sentiment was echoed by Ali Barry, founder of the Bolo-Yan association, who spoke about utilizing African plants to gain autonomy over the health system.

The conference also highlighted the need for organization and unity among traditional medicine practitioners to establish a more prominent presence in Africa. Mahamadi Konfé, an advisor to Burkina Faso's Minister of Health on traditional medicine, assured that the government is working to regulate and integrate traditional and alternative medicine. He revealed policies aimed at transforming traditional medicine practitioners into small and medium-sized enterprises and introducing traditional medicine teachings in health training schools and universities.

The Ouagadougou conference represents a significant step towards realizing health sovereignty in Africa, focusing on harnessing local resources and knowledge to improve health outcomes across the continent.