A month ago, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported that 1,141 suspected cases of cholera had been recorded in 30 states in Nigeria between January and June 2024. The report reflected the government’s concern about the rapid spread of the disease across the country, which caused a significant number of deaths; it began to take steps to control the epidemic. While many solutions have been proposed to address this menace, one option that is rarely discussed is the need to explore the potential of traditional health and medical knowledge and practices in complementing and enhancing orthodox medical methods in developing comprehensive and culturally sensitive disease response systems, especially among rural communities in Nigeria and Africa. This needs to change and here is why.
Limited success in disease outbreak prevention and response
Historically, Nigeria’s health system has struggled to effectively control and respond to disease outbreaks. Between 2016 and 2018 alone, Nigeria recorded “over 20 public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, making it one of only five member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region to report five or more public health events in a year,” according a study. The study also indicates that “despite the government’s efforts to establish the National Emergency Response and Preparedness Team to ensure effective prevention, response and control of infectious disease outbreaks in Nigeria, the frequent occurrence of these outbreaks and their severe impact on the country’s population and economy have persisted.”
Thus, to effectively manage the current cholera outbreak and prepare for potential future epidemics, the Nigerian government can draw valuable lessons from the COVID-19 response in Africa. Given the limited resources on the continent, its fragile health systems and a lack of specific treatments for COVID-19, many communities in eastern, southern and western Africa made extensive use of traditional therapies such as herbal medicines during the pandemic. These communities reported a high effectiveness of these traditional practices in preventing and managing COVID-19 symptoms, as reported by scientists.
A study in Ethiopia found that nearly half of participants (46.2%) used traditional medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19. Similarly, a survey in Hong Kong found that 44% of respondents used traditional practices to cope with the pandemic. These findings lend credence to the widespread use of traditional medicinal approaches during health crises, which presents an opportunity for African countries to explore to develop a holistic response to disease prevention and outbreaks on the continent.
Why is traditional medicine relevant to cholera outbreaks?
In India, the use of neem leaves and their extracts by its indigenous people for the treatment of cholera is widespread. Similarly, in China and Japan, kampo formulations (traditional herbal medications) have been used for many centuries to treat diarrheal diseases such as cholera. On the other hand, In Southwest Nigeria, some people resort to alternative treatments such as Ogi-tutu (wet cake mixed with omidun (sour water), Psidium guajava and Vernonia amygdalina during cholera infections. Furthermore, in South Sudan and Sierra Leone, communities have implemented quarantine measures, used homemade oral rehydration salts, and other forms of traditional medicine, as well as modifying their eating habits sanitation practices, as part of their strategies to manage cholera outbreaks.
Traditional healthcare remains an important part of health care in many African countries, where about 80% of the population, including those who also use Western medicine, rely on traditional practices involving herbs, roots, and leaves provided by local healers. This is the case in South Africa, for example, where 60% of people use traditional healthcare alongside modern medical services. Traditional healthcare practices are valued for their holistic approach to disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, often being more accessible, affordable, and culturally aligned with community needs.
Furthermore, African traditional knowledge systems have made substantial contributions towards advancing health outcomes on the continent, including the investigation and treatment of infertility, managing diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and cancer, as well as addressing issues like opioid abuse, tuberculosis, obesity, and pregnancy-related issues. Hence, to improve the management of infectious diseases, the Nigerian government, along with other African governments, must cease undervaluing African Traditional Knowledge Systems in favour of Western biomedical methods.
Interestingly, the World Health Organization in its 2019 report recognized and emphasized the importance of integrating traditional and complementary medicine into national health systems to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality. The report also highlighted the fact that traditional medicine is a critical component of healthcare for many populations, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, there is a need for countries in Africa to develop and implement comprehensive policies and regulations for traditional and complementary medicine by ensuring that these practices are safe, effective, and integrated into national health systems.
In addition, there is also the need to strengthen the education and training of traditional and complementary medicine practitioners to improve the quality of care and ensure that practitioners are well-grounded in both traditional practices and modern healthcare principles. Also, governments in Africa must prioritize funding and support for research into traditional and complementary medicine to build a comprehensive evidence base that can guide policy and practice and strengthen collaboration between traditional and complementary medicine practitioners on the one hand and conventional healthcare providers on the other hand in order to create more integrated and holistic healthcare systems on the African continent.
In sum, Nigeria, and indeed other African nations, can enhance their ability to tackle current and future health crises by valuing and incorporating traditional and complementary medicine knowledge systems and practices into their overall healthcare system, policies and infrastructure. Taking this approach will not only help to mitigate the impacts of diseases but will transform the health and well-being of millions of Africans across the continent.
