BUJUMBURA, February 12th (ABP) – Traditional medicines, based on medicinal plants, ancestral practices and cultural knowledge, play an important role in human health and in many societies, said Ntwengerabandya Oscar, a traditional healer working at the Jabe market, in an interview he gave to a check by ABP on Monday, February 10, 2025. He added that these practices still exist in Burundi.
Ntwengerabandya underscored that traditional medicines heal and retain their value. He said they are collected from the forests of Burundi and neighboring countries, depending on the needs and diseases to be treated. This includes the use of roots, tree leaves, as well as skins of wild and domestic animals, among others.
On the challenges, Ntwengerabandya noted that not all medicinal plants are scientifically proven to be safe and effective. Some plants contain toxic compounds that can harm human health. He also noted that some consumers are reluctant to be associated with the sale of these medicines, sometimes considering them as witchcraft and often prefer to send friends to buy these products for them, so that they are not seen buying them. Mr. Ntwengerabandya also deplored the lack of adequate infrastructure in the market, stressing that they work under a scorching sun and that the producers of these medicines face many challenges. He called on the government of Burundi to provide support to their service, so that traditional healers can actively participate in sustainable development.
Some people met on site appreciated that some traditional remedies can be effective if they are correctly dosed. This is at a time when medicines from pharmacies are less accessible or expensive.