Asia-Africa Cooperation for Health improvement through development of Natural and Herbal medicines
Project / Programme Summary

1. Objectives
   
   Medicinal therapies based on traditional uses of herbs and plant products have long been practiced widely in Asia and in Africa. The accumulated experience in Asia/Africa over a wide range of products and diversity of applications and treatments can be shared by Asian and African countries. In many African countries, particularly in rural areas, a majority of the population depends on herbal medicines for cures and health. However, the production technology and marketing capacities in theses countries need to be more vigorously developed based on their knowledge and extensive use of traditional medicinal practices. Some Asian countries can offer and extend support and competent assistance to African countries as they have a comparative advantage in this field.
   
   To this end, cooperation with Asian countries would facilitate development of herbal medicine in Africa by building on existing knowledge and by building up capacities for production and marketing skills of herbal medicine industry.
   
   The basic objective of the proposed project is accordingly two-fold: 1) to establish a base for technological and scientific capacity for the promotion of research and development in herbal medicine and to promote capacities of African countries in application, standardization and production processes of herbal medicines, particularly by the establishment of a pilot plant in Ghana with appropriate technology and, 2) to assist African countries in the development of commercialization capacities and marketing distribution mechanisms for those products.
2. Activities / contents
   
   1) Study-Tour of herb medicine centers in China, the Republic of Korea, and The Philippines - 12 days.
   
   Participants from selected African countries (e.g. Ghana, Senegal, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, Burkina Faso) to visit the relevant centers in a number of Asian countries to observe research programmes and production processes, the institutional arrangements, particularly focussing on applications, promotion, marketing and distribution of herbal medicinal products.
   
   2) Training course in China
   
   A training course suited to African needs will be designed by appropriate Chinese institutions on substantive elements of research application, standardization and production of traditional herbal products. About 18 Africans will be invited to participate in this course.
   
   3) Technical assistance by a team of Chinese specialists
   
   A team of specialists will be invited to visit herbal medicine centers in African countries (Ghana, Senegal, and one or two other countries) to lend technical support and advice on improvement of facilities of the center and their programmes. The purpose will be to enhance performance and services, and particularly to help identify and determine the feasibility for the establishment of pilot plants for the extraction of medicinal products and the processes for their application by the public services.
   
   4) Establishment of pilot plant at the Centre of Scientific Research and Plant Medicine (Ghana)
   
   This center has the capacity to conduct integrated and comprehensive programmes, combining research processes, production application and actual practice. A pilot plant will be established for the processing and production of pharmaceutical products from herbs and plants, those of known properties and those of new potentials, into marketable final products. The venue has already been established by the Government and equipment for pilot plants are awaited. A pilot plant suitable for the center will be identified, equipped with the appropriate technology and set up by Chinese teams for demonstration for other countries.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   • Increased access of rural populations to available herb medicines and improvement of public health services;
   • An affirmation of legitimate products, procedures and institutions, and the likely displacement of questionable products and practices;
   • An active forum for the regular interactions on "state of the art" in the practice of traditional herbal medicine among professional and institutions of Asian and African countries;
   • Establishment of a standard survey/catalogue of herbal/medicinal products, attributes, application practitioners, institutions, research-in-progress. Provision for its updating at two-year intervals;
   • Strengthening the research capability of the Center for Scientific Research into Plan Medicine (CSRPM) of Ghana, including provision of equipment and laboratory instruments and establishment of a pilot plant for the extraction of pharmaceutical materials from medicinal plants and for developing procedures of standardization and quality control:
   • Education, development of disciplines and training of specialist in farming methods, skilled workers, practitioners, health management professionals. Regular student exchange programmes.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   
   Health improvement sector

UNDP Africa, New York: Ms. Mieko Ikegame, Senior Programme Coordinator