African HIV response considers community health networks

The regulations require countries to detect and notify events with possible international consequences.

The 2005 adoption aimed to improve coordinated responses while respecting human rights.

These regulations were adopted in May 2005 and entered into force in June 2007.

On African Traditional Medicine Day, regional director Luis Sambo urged a stronger role for traditional health practitioners in preventing HIV.

The WHO regional message treated trusted community practitioners as possible partners in prevention communication.

WHO’s call concerned prevention and the role of practitioners, not evidence that a traditional remedy cures HIV.

More than 60 experts began a four-day meeting on protection of African traditional medical knowledge.

Traditional practitioners joined lawyers and researchers at the Brazzaville workshop on ownership and recognition of medical knowledge.

The meeting examined a draft framework on intellectual property rights and African traditional medical knowledge.

Participants discussed who should receive benefits from uses of African traditional knowledge and medicinal biodiversity.