Traditional medicine programmes in Madagascar

35916 Traditional Medicine Programmes in Madagascar M adagascar has inherited a organizational and prescriptive wealth of ethnomedical knowledge. framework for exercising the profes- The first medical thesis written by a sion of traditional healer and for using Malagasy concerned the study of a plant the traditional pharmacopoeia; traditionally used as a trial poison in 2. To promote and reinforce dialogue Madagascar (Rasamimanana 1891), and and partnership between local the following two theses were devoted to communities, traditional healers, Notes an inventory of Malagasy medical beliefs researchers, and clinicians for the and practices (Ramisiray 1901; Ranaivo promotion of ethnomedical practices 1902). Furthermore, a preliminary census and their scientific investigation; of traditional health practitioners in three 3. To develop appropriate legislation provinces of Madagascar revealed that and regulatory texts, in collaboration there were more than 2000, which can with relevant organizations, for be extrapolated to over 5000 in the whole access to biological resources and in KI island. particular medicinal plants, for the Madagascar is also endowed with a protection of traditional knowledge, flora of unique global importance on and for equitable sharing of benefits account of its biodiversity, endemicity, arising from the development of and ethnomedical uses. Of approximately traditional practices and the sustain- 13 000 species present in Madagascar, able exploitation of these biological http://www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/default.htm over 80% are endemic to the island, and resources, in accordance with the about 3500 are reported to have medici- Secure Local Management scheme nal properties. ("GELOSE") established by the The government of Madagascar has National Department of the Environ- shown its political commitment to tradi- ment and with the Convention on tional medicine by supporting, through an Biological Diversity, of which Mada- interministerial convention, a commission gascar is a signatory; to study regulations on traditional medi- 4. To evaluate ethnomedical practices cine and its pharmacopoeia in Madagas- for their safety, efficacy, and and car, which was established in May 1996. quality, to optimize the use of re- This commission was enlarged by decree No. 91 search results, to follow up patients N