By CGTN's Mary Claire
The Malawi government on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on traditional medicine with China to enhance traditional healers.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lilongwe at Capital Hill, Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume said this is a way of showing commitment to traditional medicines.
"We are drafting a national policy, and once it's finalized and adopted, it will provide a framework for a well-coordinated accreditation and registration system for traditional medicine practitioners in the country," Kumpalume said, Nyasa Times reports.
Kumpalume also said that 80 percent of Africans in the country use traditional medicine to prevent and cure infectious diseases.
A Malawian hospital /VCG Photo
The MOU will strengthen the efforts and gains so far achieved realising that Chinese people are very advanced in the field of traditional medicine.
Wang Guoqiang, the vice-director of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, said the main reason to visit Malawi was to strengthen the cooperation between the Ministry of Health in Malawi and in China, especially in aspect of controlling malaria in the country.
Mutharika commended China for its contribution to the country, stating that Malawi has benefited from China since the establishment of their bilateral relationship.
Apart from health support, China has assisted Malawi in its infrastructure development.
"This year, Malawi and China will be celebrating 10 years of fruitful bilateral relationship, and it is worth saying that since 2007, the country has seen the construction of Bingu International Conversion Center (BICC), Parliament Building, Bingu National Stadium, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) and Chitipa Karonga road," said Mutharika.
Kumpalume urged Malawians to distinguish between traditional medicine with witchcraft and accept them as they do with other medicine.
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