RWANDA HOSTS THE ARSO TECHNICAL HARMONIZATION COMMITTEE (ARSO/THC 13) ON AFRICAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

On 25th May, 2016 Rwanda hosted the African Regional Standardization Organization (ARSO) Technical Harmonization Committee (ARSO/THC 13) meeting on African Traditional Medicine (ATM). The meeting held in Kigali sees participation of members from 17 countries across Africa, namely 17 active Member States: (1) Rwanda, (2) Burkina Faso, (3) DR Congo, (4) Egypt, (5) Ethiopia, (6) Gabon, (7) Ghana, (8) Kenya, (9) Mauritius, (10) Nigeria; (10) Botswana; (12) Senegal; (13) South Africa; (14) Sudan; (15) Tanzania; (16) Zambia, (17) Zimbabwe and two observer Member States of Seychelles and Tanzania. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Director General of Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) welcomed participants to the country of a thousand hills and expressed gratitude to ARSO to have offered Rwanda to host such an important meeting for the lives of African people. He reminded that it is envisaged that the harmonized African Standards on ATM will provide guidance on value addition, packaging and presentation, good manufacturing, cultivation and collection practices and other technical aspects which will improve their suitability. This will prevent deceptive practices in the commercialization of such products increase their competitiveness on the market and will ultimately ensure health and safety of the patients. “This meeting is convened at a time when the demand for quality and safety of African Traditional Medicine (ATM) and mainstreaming in the African National Health care systems through standardization and proper regulation is increasing. This meeting is crucial in that it is unveiling the 10 needed ATM standards already completed that would enhance product competitiveness and access to export markets”. Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe stressed. The ARSO Secretary General, Dr. Hermogène Nsengimana commended Rwanda’s commitment to participate in standardization activities in Africa and encouraged Committee Members to uphold their paramount contribution which is regarded as key pillar in keeping Africans healthy:
“Traditional medicine is generally available, affordable, and commonly used in large parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Africa in particular, a large proportion of the population relies on traditional practitioners and their armamentarium of medicinal plants in order to meet health care needs. Although modern medicine may exist side-by-side with such traditional practice, herbal medicine has often maintained its popularity for historical and cultural reasons”. Dr. Hermogene argued. ARSO/THC/13 will prepare African Standards (ARS) with particular emphasis on quality and safety of African Traditional Medicine (ATM) to facilitate regional and international trade with an initial focus on terminology, raw material and processed products specifications. This meeting is crucial in that it is unveiling the 10 needed ATM standards that would enhance improved product competitiveness and access to export markets.