Africa observes its first Traditional Medicine Day

Completion was a scientific milestone, not a claim that all genes or diseases had been fully understood.

Member states unanimously adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Governments sought common responses to advertising, exposure and other drivers of tobacco use.

The convention marked a global public health agreement; it would enter into force later.

The treaty addressed the policies that shape smoking and second-hand smoke exposure.

On the first observance, the WHO regional office urged governments to formally recognize traditional medicine.

The newly instituted annual day offered a forum for discussion of African medical knowledge and health access.

The 2003 observance encouraged policy discussions on how traditional and conventional care could relate.

Publication date: regional director Ebrahim Samba called on Western-trained health workers to respect African traditional medicine.

Publication date: WHO Africa asked conventionally trained clinicians to engage with traditional practitioners.