of late, our streets, markets and other public spaces are flooded with herbal medicines and food supplements by hawkers and traders who promise relief from all forms of ailments.
At a time when non-communicable and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and others are pushing many affected individuals into desperation, an unregulated market has emerged as a kind of alternative clinic.
The rising demand for alternative therapy has created a field day for folks exploiting the despair of unsuspecting patients. Aside the herbal medicines, one is often confronted with all kinds of imported food supplements of questionable origins. There are radio advertisements for herbal medicines and food supplement as solutions to all kinds of health problems be they real or imaginary.
It is therefore commendable that the statutory Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has strongly reminded traders of unregulated herbal medicines and nutritionalsupplements of the illegality of their activities.
Genuine traders of dealers are encouraged to comply with the Medicines and Related Products Act of 2014 by obtaining necessary approval from MCA. The Gambia Government encourages the mainstreaming of traditional medicine and ingenious knowledge into our health care delivery system with the creation of the Traditional Health Programme at the Ministry of Health and support for the Traditional Healers Association (TRAHAS) to promote standards. All those who are therefore worthy of their salt in herbal therapy should take advantage of the enabling environment created by the government.
Be responsible and considerate. Let the greed for quick profit not lead you into endangering public health.
