By: Ilyasa Baa
A modernized outlet for the administering of traditional treatments has been opened at Fanna Factory, Grass field in Devil Hole.
According to Native Doctor (N/Dr.) KWAME Boakye-Yiadom, Traditional Medicine Consultant Lecturer at the College of Medicine and Allied Sciences, has modernized equipment’s for testing before administering the medicines produced by the outlet. He explained that they have scanning machine, machine to regulate heart beats, do diabetes test and so on.
He said they are open to helping university students with research, training and as well as teach them how to administer traditional medicine. He expressed that he had established an herbarium at the college in Kossoh Town, adding that the ABY Traditional Medicine Outlet would serve as a center to teach about the development of traditional medicine in Sierra Leone especially those at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences to teaching them how to make tablets and capsules.
He said students who write their dissertations on plants normally do not know the history of plants. “I set up this thing so students can come here for practical’s”, he stated in an inclusive interview with A-z newspaper. “It is my contribution to capacitate the students as we try to let students get interest in traditional medicine since 80% of the ingredients used in manufacturing Orthodox medicines come from plants”, he added.
The outlet is yearning for help towards upgrading packaging and bottling of the medicines produced by the outlet. ” I need the World Health Organization (WHO),the Western African Health Organization (WAHO), Concern Worldwide and other well-wishers to come onboard financially so that we can improve on our products and start exporting them”, he said.
Since he transferred to Grass Field for the past three years, more than three hundred people have been treated from various illnesses especially women and children within the community.
Since the introduction of the policy on Traditional Medicines in 2008, Kwame, being a Ghanaian -Sierra Leonean, had been trying to open this outlet having done advanced studies in China, South Africa and Senegal.
It could be recalled that 95% of traditional healers are illiterate and could not operate in line with the policy.
Mariama Barrie, a mother of four, told this medium that for the past few years she and her neighbors have been going to the Aby Traditional Outlet for treatments. She added that the outlet has been supportive to them and their children. She said they have been happy about the outlet since it was opened officially on 15 May, 2022.
Aminata Koroma, a youth in the community expressed her satisfaction over the latest development in the clinic lamenting that last year the menstruation problem she faced was treated by N/Dr. Kwame with his products.
Abdulai Conteh, a Commercial Driver lauded the massage (physio) facility at the outlet.
