Analyzing the Critical Role of Traditional Medicines in Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases in Official Public Health Policy in Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 31% of mortality in Cameroon, therefore, a major public health challenge. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus respectively are responsible for 21.6% and 6.5% of mortality. Decision-makers remain more focused on policies for the control of infectious diseases compared with policies for the prevention of NCDs. Cameroon has put in place official policies to fight against NCDs. However, this is being done without considering traditional medical approaches. Traditional medical approaches have been playing an inestimable role in the control of some NCDs, especially in rural areas where access to conventional medicine is limited. Aims: This paper seeks to describe the neglected role of traditional medicine to fight against NCDs and to find out why the government of Cameroon is reluctant to integrate traditional medical approaches in tackling NCDs. Methodology: Desk review of government policies on NCDs, traditional medicine, the role of traditional healers in the fight against NCDs in Cameroon was conducted. The descriptive and analytic approaches have been used. Results: In Cameroon, government policy is restricted in the provision of health care for NCDs to urban and semi-urban health facilities. Traditional medicine is still neglected in official policy in the fight against various diseases including NCDs.  Conclusion: In Cameroon, government policy has shown to be restricted in the provision of health care for NCDs to urban and rural health facilities, as it neglects the importance of traditional medicine in the treatment and management of NCD's. The government needs to involve traditional healers in the fight against NCDs as a means of reducing the growing rate of morbidity and mortality.