In a landmark week for global health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Government of Lesotho have called for a “new era” of healthcare, one that combines the ancient wisdom of traditional medicine with the rigorous evidence of modern science.
From the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in India to national commemorations in Lesotho, the message was clear that traditional medicine is no longer just a natural option but a vital tool for achieving health for all.
Opening the summit in New Delhi on Wednesday this week, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that nearly 90 percent of countries worldwide use traditional medicine (TM).
“WHO is committed to uniting the wisdom of millennia with the power of modern science,” said Dr. Tedros. “By harnessing innovation from AI to genomics, we can unlock the potential of traditional medicine to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable health solutions.”
The summit aimed to push the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, focusing on better regulation and scientific evidence.
Dr. Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist, added that traditional treatments must meet the same high standards as modern drugs. “We need to apply the same scientific rigour while respecting biodiversity and cultural principles,” she stated.
Closer to home, Lesotho celebrated African Traditional Medicine Day with a health walk and a high-level dialogue involving the Ministry of Environment, UNDP, and the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
Maphakamile Xingwana (Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment urged Basotho to reconnect with their roots, noting how traditional remedies provided vital relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We must document and preserve indigenous knowledge for future generations,” she said, calling for a more organised system for traditional practices.
Remaketse Sehlabaka, Member of Parliament, expressed concern that foreign medicines often overshadow local ones.
Sehlabaka urged citizens to take pride in Lesotho’s own flora. “We must become better informed and appreciate the therapeutic potential of our own country’s plants,” he remarked.
Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre Representing the global perspective, emphasised that this movement is an evidence-based, ethical, and environmental imperative that helps both people and the planet flourish.
Despite its popularity, traditional medicine receives less than one percent of global health research funding. To bridge this gap, the WHO launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a digital database of 1.6 million scientific records to help scientists and doctors study ancient remedies safely.
In Lesotho, speakers emphasised that the biggest threat to this sector is over-harvesting. Without proper conservation and fair trade rules, the plants needed for these medicines could disappear.
Summary
- In a landmark week for global health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Government of Lesotho have called for a “new era” of healthcare, one that combines the ancient wisdom of traditional medicine with the rigorous evidence of modern science.
- From the Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in India to national commemorations in Lesotho, the message was clear that traditional medicine is no longer just a natural option but a vital tool for achieving health for all.
- Closer to home, Lesotho celebrated African Traditional Medicine Day with a health walk and a high-level dialogue involving the Ministry of Environment, UNDP, and the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
