The Potential of Medicinal Plants in Africa: The Current Challenges for Environmental Health
Loading...
Date
2004
Authors
Kung'u, J.B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Joypet Sevices & Printers Ltd.
Abstract
There is great potential in the sale of herbal medicine in the world. The trade worldwide currently exceeds USD 5 billion per year. In Eastern Africa, consumption of herbal medicines especially in arid and semi arid areas has long been high. It increases poor people s access to health care since clinics and drug stores are rare in these areas. The raw material used to make herbal medicine can earn producers who are mainly resource poor farmers millions of dollars a year. Small-scale entrepreneurs can earn a living by processing and trading in herbal medicines. This sector therefore has enormous potential to contribute to poverty eradication by raising incomes and creating jobs in the arid and semi arid areas. Currently the demand for numerous popular plant species used for herbal medicines exceeds supply. Many of the popular species are becoming extinct. The declining supply of these plants is likely to generate significant economic and social losses considering the huge number of people who depend on medicinal plants either as a cure or as a source of income. Most of the trees and shrubs which are the main source of medicines, have neither been documented nor studied and are still being considered solely as products of the wild. The local health traditions are also being lost because they are oral and largely undocumented. A decline in the availability of a culturally important and easily accessible consumer goods is likely to generate significant losses for the community. The loss of income-earning opportunities for people active in the plant trade also represent a serious loss to those involved in the trade. This paper identifies the potential of medicinal plants in Africa and the challenges for environmental health
Description
This paper was presented at the International workshop on ‘Environmental Health Education in the East African Region’ 24th - 26th March 2004 held at Kenyatta University Nairobi, Kenya
Keywords
Citation
International workshop on ‘Environmental Health Education in the East African Region’ 24th - 26th March 2004