AGA RWANDA NETWORK CENSUS

REPORT OF TRADITIONAL HEALTH PRACTICTIONERS

(THPS) CENSUS IN RWANDA.REALIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH MINISTRY

OF HEALTH COORDINATED AND PRSENTED BY AGA

RWANDA NETWORK

Introduction

• This project was initiated to identify all Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) working on Rwandan ground and set up a database of all those Practitioners wishing to pursue the treatment and healing profession in order to have a membership card issued by an official National Forum called AGA RWANDA NETWORK in collaboration with the MOH.

Introduction

• It was urgent to set up that database and create a legal framework for traditional medicine to clean up this sector, which increasingly becomes a victim of charlatans who sully it by their business practices harmful to public health.

• The project has been accomplished and submitted to the Ministry of Health in order to be sponsored yet, in the requested amount which was over 28 million of Rwandan Francs, the Ministry of Health has provided about 297 thousands for the national radio announcement. This has been caused by the fact that the requested sponsorship was not prepared in the budget of MoH.

Introduction

• However, the direction board of AGA RWANDA NETWORK has tried its best to realize the projected census despite of lack of that requested sponsorship. Leaders of the Forum have been working in the place of temporal employees that would be hired once sponsored. They were only encouraged by the fact that the projected census was to help in the creation of professional and legal framework through which TM would be practiced in Rwanda.

Introduction

This document provides the overview of AGA RWANDA NETWORK, Census Project of all THPs in Rwanda and the way it has been conducted, results from collected data analysis and it will end by recommendations based on found results.

1.2. About AGA RWANDA NETWORK

• AGA RWANDA NETWORK is an abbreviation of

Kinyarwanda and English words which means ABAVUZI GAKONDO RWANDA NETWOK. It is a National Forum of Rwandan Traditional Health Practitioners which aims at both sustaining and improving Rwandan Traditional Medicine in line with modern development. It has been created in March 27th 2011 at Kigali by volunteer people, who already had discovered the richness hidden in Traditional Medicine and how it can enhance health services in Rwanda hence the development of the country.


• Mission• To sustain and improve Rwandan Traditional

medicine in line with modern development therefore fully exploit the related wisdom in Rwandan culture.

• Vision• To enhance the traditional medicine in Rwandan

culture improving knowledge and skills of traditional medicine practitioners.

• Location• The National office is now located in Kigali City,

Nyarugenge District, in Gitega Sector near the Gitega Sector’s offices.


• Achievements• From the moment it has been initiated, AGA RWANDA

NETWORK has realized different achievements such as:• Establishing the National Office, located at Gitega near of the

Sector. • Making a garden of different medicinal plants • Establishing provincial and District committees all over the

country. • Conducting trainings for Traditional Health Practitioners in all

Provinces and Kigali City. The trainees have acquired enriched knowledge and skills in different courses such as human anatomy, physiology, pathology, how to prepare natural medicine, nutrition, introduction to psychology, Asian medicine, Rwandan traditional medicine, etc.


Production of AGA RWANDA NETWORK documentary movie

Preparation and production of a book of TM that will continue to be produced in Volumes. The first volume is called: “INDONGOZI Y’UBUVUZI GAKONDO BWA KINYARWANDA”

Census of all THPs all over the country Preparation and celebration of the 09th African

Day of TM celebrated on 02nd Sept 2011.

1.3. The census project

• 1.3.1. Objectives and expected results of the census

project•

Project goalsThe objectives of this census were:- To identify and record all activities on traditional healers in the entire country;- To produce a database of traditional healers at the national level that will allow to know t heir location, specialty, etc.- To produce a membership card to be issued to confirm the recognition of each Traditional Heath Practitioner (THP) in the domain.

• Expected results• This project would allow:

- AGA RWANDA NETWORK forum to make actions plan to strengthen the capacity of traditional healers in order to help the government to professionalize traditional medicine in Rwanda;- To fight against quackery and enhance the profession of traditional medicine.


• 1.3. 2. Beneficiaries • The direct beneficiaries• The direct beneficiaries of this project are in

particular, THPs forum members.• Indirect beneficiaries• The indirect beneficiaries are the entire

Rwandan population in general who may be in one way or another, a victim of the unlawful practices of charlatans who claim the true healers.


• 1.3.3. The implementation of the project•

1.3.3.1. Resources and ways to implement the project.a ) Re s o urc e s re q uire d

• Ma te ria l re s o urc e s :• - It was supposed to use means of transport of the

mission team and beneficiaries: Since the action of recording was to be on two or three sites, as appropriate, in each province, the mission team would need a vehicle for their travel and ticket costs for THPs to motivate them.


- Technical equipment to facilitate the creation of the database: it was also necessary to avail two laptops computers, one desktop computers, a printer, a machine for printing plastic cards, a photocopy machine, and two digital cameras.


• Hum a n re s o urc e s :• The mission team would consist of two

enumerators, two photographers and an expert in the creation of databases. The enumerators should be persons experienced in the field of traditional medicine in order to reap all the technical information necessary for the data of traditional practitioners. It would also be a census project coordinator.


• Fina nc ia l re s o urc e• At the conception of the project, it was supposed that the

financial resources that would be used were to come entirely from the grant that would be mainly allocated as follows:

• - Cost of technical equipment• - Transportation costs of the mission team and tickets for the

movement of beneficiaries.- Fees paid to consultants for this mission

• - Operating expenses for the coordination of this activity.• It is very important to consider that when the project was

implemented all resources used were only from the arrangement of AGA RWANDA NETWORK. That is why all predetermined actions in this projected were not done properly and/or entirely.

Tim e re s o urc e s The realization of this mission was divided into

three main steps: - Data collection on field; - Data processing; - Publication of results and validation


• B) Wa ys to im p le m e nt.• Da ta Co lle c tio n a nd the ir e ntry o n the fie ld a nd d e live ring c a rds .• Here is explained the process of the data collection and entry,

photographs identification, and cards delivering:• The registration of all information relating to the identity of traditional

healers was done by using the method of interview. AGA RWANDA NETWORK trained five persons of his educated and dedicated members were used in order to help as skilled interviewers. A questionnaire was prepared as an interview tool. Interviewers were helping interviewees to answer this questionnaire and answers were recorded immediately with software which would serve in data analysis. After giving asked information according to the questionnaire, there was a photographer to take the picture of THP, which was used for his identification card. The cards were printed and delivered hence registered in the book of AGA RWANDA NETWOK immediately.

• The mission of census was done at different sites in each province as follows:

• Province/City

• Site

• Dates

•

• KIGALI CITY

• Nyarugenge

• 07/08/11

• 08/08/11

•

•

• WEST

• Nyagatare

• 09/08/11

• Rwamagana

• 10/08/11

• Bugesera

• 11/08/11

•

• NORTH

• Gicumbi

• 12/08/11

• Musanze

• 14/08/11

•

•

• EAST

• Nyabihu

• 15/08/11

• Karongi

• 16/08/11

• Rusizi

• 17/08/11

•

• SOUTH

• Huye

• 18/08/11

• Muhanga

• 19/08/11

• TOTAL

•

• 12 DAYS

•


• Da ta p ro c e s s ing• Data processing was being done by an expert in

creating basic data to arrive at a computerized database that would be used each time for consultation when necessary.

Public a tio n o f re s ults a nd va lida tio n• The results of the mission was supposed to be

published as a report and validated during a validation session of all stakeholders: MoH, IRST, WHO, UNESCO etc.


• 1.3.3.2 Uncounted problems • The period all along the covered census for all

THPs working in Rwanda has been very important for it had helped to contact many of THPs, their names, their ages, where they are located, their way of treating and/or healing and diseases and/or illnesses that they find solution to. All these collected information will help to make a strategic plan for improving health care delivered from Traditional Medicine (TM).


However, this action of National Census of all THPs in Rwanda has encountered different challenges as it was also done unexpectedly without any other prior preparation. Therefore, encountered challenges can be grouped in following lines:


a) Lack of financial means As it was proposed in submitted project to the

Minister of Health for the covered census, the project contained a budget of 28,990,000Rwf in which the Ministry of Health has only provided 297,000Rwf for radio announcement.

• Where do you think other amount of money has been found for implementing submitted budget for realizing the projected action of census? Could Leaders of AGA RWANDA NETWORK let the action not done because of that lack of financial sponsorship…..? If the National Forum of THPs in Rwanda was directed by leaders who did not get the idea to initiate it, they would suspend the action, but it has not been the case.

• The Leaders of the Forum are also initiators of its creation. They were rushing with time in terms of improving TM in Rwanda. That is the reason why they could not let the opportunity pass without any exploitation. The forum has taken loan for different basic needed materials such as computers, printers, machine for cards plastification, and other amount, though it was still insufficient for activities that were to be performed. This means that though the action of census has been realized all over the country, the executer, AGA RWANDA NETWORK, is still facing the problem of the used loan.

• b) Lack of enough human resources: • It was proposed that the team in census project

should be composed of 10 persons: two enumerators, two photographers, two persons for cards making, one person for cards registration and delivery, two officers of AGA RWANDA NETWORK for coordinating activities, and one consultant for data collection and analysis. The used team lacked 3 persons: 1 photographer, 1 card maker, and 1 person for cards registration and delivery. Some of census activities have been done by AGA Leaders themselves. This lack of enough human resources has been the cause of following challenge:


• c) Unfinished census at some sites:• Because of insufficient human resource, census was not

done for all THPs at some sites due to the big number of them at these sites, which are: Bugesera, Musanze, Nyabihu, and Muhanga. The team has returned at the Site of Bugesera on 21st August 2011 where it has also been found out that there still is a need to go at what was called Ngenda Commune because there has been claimed to be many THPs who are not yet registered because of misinformation. The site of Musanze was composed by 3 Districts: Musanze, Burera, Rulindo, and Gakenke. The census was done for only one District, Musanze. The census team will be obliged to go at each District of the remained for avoiding cost of journey to people. Other people at Nyabihu and Muhanga Sites were registered but not given membership cards because of electrical problem.

CHAPTER II: THE OVERVIEW OF TRADITIONAL MEDECINE AND HEALTH IN RWANDA.

2.1. Definitions

With reference to WHO documents, this document takes into account the following definitions:

2.1. Definitions

Tra d itio na l Me d ic ine (TM) refers to the sum of knowledge and practices, explicable or not, transmitted from generation to generation, orally or in writing, used within a human community to diagnose, prevent or eliminate disequilibrium of physical, mental, social or spiritual wellbeing.

He a lth tra d ip ra c titio ne r (HT) is a person who is known by the community within which he lives to be competent to provide health care, by means of plant, animal or mineral substances, and other methods, based on socio-cultural and religious beliefs, as well as on knowledge, behaviour and beliefs related to physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing and causes of illnesses and disabilities prevailing within the community.

Tra d itio na l Pha rm a c o p o e ia is the repertory of a set of plant, animal or mineral substances used within a human community in order to diagnose, prevent or eliminate disequilibrium of physical, mental, social or spiritual wellbeing.

Tra d itio na l m idwife (TMw) is a person who is widely known within her neighborhood to be able to help parturient women and whose competence comes from a familial legacy or from training with other traditional midwives. They are at present known as Maternal Health Assistants (MHA).

Im p ro ve d Tra d itio na l Me d ic ine s (ITMs) are medicines made on the basis of local traditional pharmacopoeia, with known toxicity limits, with pharmacological effect confirmed through scientific research, with quantifiable dosage of which quality can be controlled when put on the market.

Tra d itio na l he rba lis t is a person who has knowledge of medicinal plants and sells them at a fixed place, preferably in a marketplace.

Me dic ina l p la nts (MP) are plants used in Traditional Medicine of which at least one part has therapeutic properties.

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine

2.2.1 History Traditional Medicine was practiced in Africa

long before the adoption of western medicine. Its practice stood the test of colonialism, despite measures taken at that time to marginalize Traditional Medicine

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine

Being a huge pool of knowledge, philosophy and cosmogony not yet exploited, Traditional Medicine not only offers possibilities of effective and accessible treatments for pathologies prevailing in communities, but also constitutes a cultural legacy and a means to establish the relationship between populations and their own history and culture.

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine Until now, the WHO estimates that 80% of

rural population living in developing countries relies on Traditional Medicine for their health care (WHO, 2001).

The Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978 and many relevant declarations by the WHO and other international organizations have emphasized the importance of Traditional Medicine.

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine In Rwanda, it is sure that a large majority of

the people still uses resources of Traditional Medicine to solve health problems. Referring to research works done in other countries of our sub-region, we estimate that there is about 1 tradipractitioner per 500 inhabitants.

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine The creation of Traditional Medicine Service in

the health care Division of the Ministry of Health goes back to 1980. It was in charge of establishing a National Policy on Traditional Medicine, coordinating its implementation, establishing Rwandese Traditional Pharmacopoeia and preparing basic documents aimed at integrating Traditional Medicine and health tradipractitioners, including traditional midwives, into the framework of primary health care.

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine Moreover, the utility and timeliness of

integrating Traditional Medicines which have been proved innocuous, effective and of good quality into the collection of therapeutic products available to deal with pathologies predominating in the community need not to be demonstrated.

2.2. History and current status of Traditional Medicine In 1980, within the National University of

Rwanda, a ‘Ce ntre Unive rs ita ire d e Re che rche e n Pha rm a c o p é e e t Mé d ic ine Tra d itio nne lle ’ – CURPHAMETRA- (University Centre for Research in Pharmacopoeia and Traditional Medicine) was created. This was later on transferred to the Ins titut d e Re che rche Sc ie ntifiq ue e t Te chno lo g iq ue – IRST- (Institute of Scientific and Technological Research).

It is nowadays known as the Ce ntre d e Re che rche e n Phyto m é d ic a m e nts e t Sc ie nc e s d e la v ie (Centre for Research in Phytomedicines and Life Sciences). This centre has the mission, among others, to carry out the study of medicinal plants and any other products or methods used in Traditional Medicine.

Medicinal plants have always been the source of new molecules used by pharmaceutical industry. It is thus necessary to protect natural sites of natural medicinal plants and take specific measures designed to domesticating and reintroducing endangered or extinct medicinal plant species, as well as to grow medicinal plants that are most widely used.

According to the WHO, about 70% of the world population uses Traditional (natural) Medicine and indigenous knowledge to satisfy health care needs. It is believed that this number is higher in sub-Saharan Africa because many people use TM instead of conventional treatments

. One of the reasons that account for this is that sub-Saharan Africa is a region where poverty levels are the highest and very few people have financial means that allow them to have access to expensive health services.

In addition, doctors are not always available and there are also customs and practices which make them prefer TM

Therefore, the majority largely depends on the TM as far as health and health education are concerned. Despite that the role of TM is recognized, it is not yet, in sub-Saharan Africa, a component of the formal health system as is elsewhere in other regions.

In Africa, Asia and Latin America, many countries use TM to meet some primary health needs. Here are some examples:

In China, plant-based traditional preparations represent between 30 and 50 % of the total sum of medicines consumed.

In the United Kingdom, annual total sum of money spent on alternative medicine represent US $ 230 millions. In industrialised countries, “complementary” or “alternative” medicine is an equivalent to TM.

In Germany, 90% of people take a natural medicine at a certain time in their life.

In Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia, the first-line treatment for 60% of children infected with strong fever due to malaria resorts to medicinal plants administered at home.

70 % of Canadians use at least once complementary medicine.

In the USA, 258 million of adults use products from complementary medicine.

The world market of medicinal plants, which is rapidly growing, represents at present more than US$60 billion per year.

According to the Commission for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a sum of US$17 billion was allocated for Traditional Medicines in 2000 in the USA.

The African community will be celebrating the African Traditional Medicine Day on 31 August each year. The decision to institute this day is a result of the adoption, in 2000, of a resolution on the “Promotion of the role of Traditional Medicine in health systems: Strategy of African Region” by the health ministers of the Region.

The ministers, on that occasion, asked that this day be instituted in Member States and introduced in the calendar of days celebrated by the WHO.

The celebration of that day aims to highlight the importance of that resource which helps to improve health.

The image and role of Traditional Medicine have been reinforced in Africa when the Heads of State of the continent declared in Abuja in august 2001 that research in Traditional Medicine must be a priority. This declaration was followed by another, made in Lusaka in July 2001, which made the 2001-2010 period a “Decade of African Traditional Medicine”.

3. Current situation of TM

Nowadays, Rwanda’s policy on the development and utilization of Traditional Medicine resources is based on many strong points:

The existence of technical structure within the Ministry of Health in charge of implementing this policy;

The support given to health cooperatives of tradipractitioners in order to promote the conservation of traditional knowledge and protect health tradipractitioners’ profession against money-mindedness and quackery that are spreading because of urbanization and traditional value crisis.

The interests directed towards different cultural aspects of Traditional Medicine by the Rwandan and foreign education and research institutions and the existence of “living treasures” of Traditional Medicine’

The existence of different levels of education and research activities in the field of Traditional Medicine in the framework of national, sub-regional and international joint collaboration.

The availability of western medicine health workers and health tradipractitioners so that they can collaborate, in the framework of doing operational research on the complementarily between both health systems, in order to really improve the health status of the populations;

The development of traditional pharmacopoeia in order to make safe, effective and accessible local medicinal plant-based medicines available;

Measures taken to protect biodiversity;

However, a more detailed analysis of different aspects is necessary in order to better define strengths to be consolidated and weaknesses to eliminate in the framework of implementing the National Policy of Traditional Medicine.

Strengths and weaknesses in the field of TM 2.4.1. Law and regulation framework Strengths

The Government of the Republic of Rwanda has set up conditions to be fulfilled in order to practice Traditional Medicine in Ministerial Instructions N° 20/18 of the 16th June/2006.

• The Law no. 95/004 0f 18/01/95 sets up conditions for the management of forest resources in Rwanda. (Paragraph discussing TM to be included). See Official Gazette.

Weaknesses: The existing laws and current procedures do

not really regulate everyone’s activities in this field and do not defend true health tradipractitioners: a review of laws involving concerned people is therefore necessary.

The blueprint law on health does not specify the role of Traditional Medicine in the improvement in the health status of the populations and social and health development programmes, even if it provides for Traditional Medicines in the framework of National Pharmaceutical Policy.

The absence of a Code of practice and ethics adapted to the reality of Traditional Medicine.

2.4.2 Institutional framework Strengths

The existence of the service in charge of TM within the Ministry of Health. This service has many missions, of which the most important are:

Elaboration the policy on TM and following up its implementation;

Elaboration rules, norms, regulations of the TM practices;

Promotion of the rational use of traditional medicines;

Coordinating interventions in the field of TM

the existence of Traditional Medicine Department within the Institute of Scientific and Technological Research;

Some partners of the Government intervening in the field of health collaborate or support IRST in the development of Traditional Medicine. We can mention, among many others, the WHO, UNESCO, and others.

Weaknesses The absence of national multidisciplinary and

intersectoral framework for consultation and coordination between different institutions concerned with the development of different aspects of Traditional Medicine.

Insufficient administrative and technical staff (in the field of Traditional Medicine) in terms of quantity and quality.

The insufficiency of equipment and funds for research does not allow full exploitation of the Traditional Medicine services and the achievement of objectives.

The place and role of Traditional Medicine in comparison with other decentralised structures of the Ministry of Health are not clearly defined.

Apart from IRST, there does not exist any other institutions in charge of developing Traditional Medicine and coordinating operational research and education activities in this field.

. Improved Traditional Medicines (ITMs) Strengths The level of achievements in the field of

research in Traditional Medicine in Rwanda is indeed undisputable but not sufficient: The existence of sufficient raw materials A good collaboration between tradipractitioners

and IRST

Weaknesses Despite the existence of a lot of reliable

information about medicinal plants used to obtain local Traditional Medicine, new ITMs are not quickly made.

There are no funds for scientific evaluations of the traditional remedies, the only way to get evidences of their efficacy, safety and quality; and to fully integrate TM in the national health system.

ITMs, since they are not recorded, are not officially put on the market.

CHAPTER III: CENSUS FIELD MISSION RESULTS PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS.

3. 1. Introduction Before we present results from the census, it

is very crucial to remind the processes of this mission on the field. Registration of all information relating to the identity of traditional healers. This was done by using the method of interview.

AGA RWANDA NETWORK trained five of his educated and dedicated members in order to help as interviewers. A questionnaire was prepared as an interview tool. Interviewers were helping interviewees to answer this questionnaire and answers were recorded immediately with software which would serve in data analysis.

After giving asked information according to the questionnaire, there was a photographer to take his picture which was used for his identification cards. The cards were printed immediately.

. Census field mission results. Below are figures of people given the

complete service from the interview to the stage of turning home with the cards. Those figures are according to district and they are showing how district participated in this action.

According to these figures in the table above, in Muhanga districts is where we have many registered traditional healers registered; in Nyaruguru is where we have the lowest number. It can be thought that in Muhanga we have many TPs registered because it has been the last site during the time of this census mission; so it was reached when a big number was already informed.

Sex of questioned and registered TPs:SEX NUMBER %

Female 514 52.72

Male 461 47.28

Figure 1: Sex of questioned and registered TPs

53%

47%FemalesMales

It is clear in this table that we have many females TPs than males. Normally Rwanda as a country is inhabited by a big number of females than males; this is due mainly to the war and Genocide. So, it is not surprising to see that even in the field of traditional medicine the number of females is above the number of males.

But there is another aspect of gender which must be considered in traditional medicine in Rwanda.

In Rwandan culture, there is no segregation as far as traditional medicine heritage is concerned. If we admit that culture is “the wa y p e o p le live . Culture a ffe c ts e ve ry thing we think a nd d o , fro m ho w we tre a t o ur e ld e rs , to who we a llo w to be a he a le r, to wha t we d o whe n o ur childre n d o no t fe e l we ll” ;

Then we will conclude that even though females were neglected in many aspects of Rwanda traditional culture, they were considered and very involved in this aspect of culture which is traditional medicine.

Group of ages Number of TPS %

Under 35 257 24.65

36- 60 349 35.50

60 and above 369 39.85

304274264

5930211310

31,1828,127,076,053,072,151,331,050

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

NUMBER OF TPS %

Not attendedschool at any level

Not finishedprimary level

Finished primarylevel

Vocationaltraining

A' level

O' level

College

University

The graphic shows that a big number of traditional practitioners never attended the school even at a primary level; they number 31.18%. Another big number never finished the primary level 28.10%. Only 1.05 attended university level of education. There is also illiteracy problem.

. Most of encountered THPs working in Rwanda have neither informal nor formal education. Most of them do not even have skills of writing and reading. This is one of handicaps for their collaboration with conventional health practitioners.

It has been found out however, that there are some people among THPs who have advanced levels of education, even Universities’ that they should be promoted for specializing in TM as one way of improving TM related services

Answers received from TPs concerning different system diseases/illnesses treatment/healing ability are clear in the table below:

Diseases curing ability Number of THs with ability %

Circulation system diseases healing ability 462 47.38

Nervous system diseases healing ability 291 29.84

Muscle system diseases healing ability 217 22.25

Immune system diseases 104 10.66

spiritual and psychological illness healing ability 479 48.82

Digestive system diseases healing ability 535 54.87

Respiratory system diseases 169 17.33

Reproductive system diseases healing ability 467 47.89

Integumentary system diseases healing ability 584 59.89

The table and the graphic above are showing the diseases treatment ability of traditional practitioners according to their testimonies. All diseases were put in groups according to the human body systems.

A big number of TPs are those who deal with integumentary system diseases (59.89%) and the lowest percentage is for those with immune system diseases (10.66).

Figure 3: Graphic of kinds of therapy

336

639

34,46 65,54

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Number of TPs %

Magical therapy

Natural therapy

According to testimonies of TPs we realized that there are two kinds of therapy used in traditional medicine. One is magical therapy another natural. What we have called magical is that one that uses spiritual power in treatment and the natural one is that uses only, natural medicine from natural resources.

We found that a big number of TPs is using natural therapy (65.54%) but we must not neglect 34.46% that uses magical therapy.

Concerning where the TPs have got the knowledge in traditional medicine, answers are grouped in four following groups:

Table 10: Classification of THPs concerning where they have got knowledge in TM

Where the knowledge is from Number of TPs %

From ancestors 320 35.39

From parents 280 28.71

From schools 80 8.20

From elsewhere 270 27.70

Those who declared to have the knowledge from ancestors (35.39%) are more than other groups. When you consider in deep, you will find that almost all magical traditional practitioners are in this group. A small group (8.20%) is that one of those who got the knowledge from schools. All of those last ones are natural therapists.

Figure 4: Concerning collaboration with Health centers:

Figure 4: Concerning collaboration with Health centers:

0

100

200

300

400

500

Number of TPs %

There is a collaboration

There is no collaboration

In this mission it has also been found that some of THPs do not work with Health Centers. This is caused by two main facts. The one is that some THPs were not informed that they were to work with Conventional Medicine Health Practitioners (CMHPs). The second is that some of Health Centres still ignore the role of THPs in health services, the reason why they do not recognize them yet, they are much needed.

Table 12: Concerning TPs affiliation in cooperatives, the table below shows what has been found:

Cooperative affiliation Number of TPs affiliated %

Affiliated in cooperatives 583 59.80

Not affiliated in cooperative 372 38.20

As shown in the table above 59.80% of tradipractitioners is affiliated in cooperative and 38% not yet. Even though is big number is affiliated in cooperatives; others are still working in disorder because these cooperatives are not established all over the county.

Activities to support/ give advice to cooperatives of tradipractitioners are not widespread.

The Ministry was still having some weaknesses with regard to organization, services and logistics of TM. The coordination of traditional therapists’ cooperatives is not done. Through AGA RWANDA NETWORK all those shortcomings can be resolved.

CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

4.1. Conclusion The work which has been done according to

means which was available is worth of praise. This project required both human and financial resources beyond AGA RWANDA NETWORK capacity.

It is important to see that what were done will serve as a stepping stone to many some activities action plan. It is in this context that the mobilization of resources and sensitization must be planned for the future.

Recommendations All above encountered situation and

challenges have led us to following recommendations to the ministry of health:

To provide budget for payment of taken loan in realization of actions done in covered census because it was very needed to be done though there was no prepared budget for it. The Ministry of Health should even look for whoever can be sponsor so as to find financial means to AGA RWANDA NETWORK as the Forum is too new born to face financial problems that it has to find solutions to.

To allow AGA RWANDA NETWORK additional time for returning to sites where census was not finished and provide budget for that action.

To contribute in trainings of all THPs working in Rwanda for increasing the efficiency of their services to the people.

To allow AGA RWANDA NETWORK additional time for returning to sites where census was not finished and provide budget for that action.

To contribute in trainings of all THPs working in Rwanda for increasing the efficiency of their services to the people.

To help in partnership extension between AGA RWANDA NETWORK and other Forums of THPs all over the world as a good way of improving experiences for THPs working under umbrella of Rwandan Forum.

To establish a special program to affiliate all recommend facilitation all THPs to Health Centers near of them for collaborations

To find scholarship for some skilled THPs in order to help them specialize in TM

To help in the creation of National College of TM as a very efficient way of training skilled THPs

To reinforce the program of working in cooperatives because Tradipractitioners’ cooperatives are not established all over the county.

To strengthen AGA RWANDA Network is other to assume properly the function of coordination of traditional therapists’ cooperatives.

Establish the code of practices and ethics for TMs in Rwanda: There does not exist a code of practice and ethics adapted to the organization of the health tradipractitioner’s profession and fight against quackery.

Enhance training programs for TPs: Tradipractitioners’ needs for training/education are not fully taken into account at different levels of health system.

Elaborate specialized module in traditional medicine and insert them in curricula: There do not exist in different curricula, modules of specialized education, especially with regard to the study of TM.

Establish a laboratory of traditional medicine: Existing laboratories in which lab work can be done are not well equipped.

Health tradipractitioners do not formally take part in passing on knowledge at different levels.

Promotion of research and education in the field of traditional medicine: The frameworks for joint national, sub-regional and international collaboration between different structures involved in research and education in different aspects of Traditional Medicine are always formalized.

To establish a library and data bank on traditional medicine: There are difficulties in accessing updated libraries and data banks in the field of research on Traditional Medicine. There do not exist any reference book on Rwandese Traditional Pharmacopoeia and a complete and accessible data base of medicinal plants of the flora of Rwanda.

To strengthen national institutional and organizational capacities related to the development of TM resources.

To reinforce health tradipractitioners’ capacities in order to help them provide the population with quality services.

To strengthen national capacities in charge of training/education and researches on different aspects of Traditional Medicine.

To reinforce the collaboration between tradipractitioners and conventional medicine practitioners in order to address priority health problems.

To increase the quantity of Traditional Medicines available, within the framework of National Pharmaceutical Policy

CONTACTS

Tel: +250 (0) 784 18 65 85 E-mail: [email protected] AGA RWANDA NETWORK E-mail adress: [email protected]

WEB: www.agarwanda.com

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