Promoting traditional medicine

The National Farmers Platform The Gambia (NFPG) has become a central advocate for inclusive health governance and policy reforms benefiting forest and farm producers nationwide. With its headquarters in Brikama and five regional offices, NFPG represents 488,804 members – 311,534 women and 177,270 men – making it one of the largest farmer led platforms in the country.

A major pillar of NFPG’s work is championing the rights of traditional knowledge holders, particularly traditional healers organised under the Traditional Healers Assembly (TRAHASS).

In rural areas where communities depend on herbal remedies for primary healthcare, NFPG has consistently pushed for a formal legal framework to recognise, regulate and protect traditional medicine. Prior to these efforts, healers were not officially registered, herbal preparations were unregulated, and communities lacked basic health related safeguards.

Forest and Farm Facility activities

The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) supported NFPG to engage TRAHASS and national health authorities in a structured policy dialogue aimed at integrating traditional medicine into The Gambia’s health governance system.

Through FFF assistance, NFPG and TRAHASS undertook targeted consultations, received training in policy analysis and advocacy, and strengthened the organisational capacity needed to influence national decision making – enabling progress that would not have been possible otherwise.

This collaboration led to the drafting of the Traditional Medicine Act, the first comprehensive national framework to govern traditional medicine. The act sets standards for practitioner registration, regulates herbal medicine preparation and use, and provides mechanisms for alignment between traditional and conventional health systems. It is currently undergoing national validation with World Health Organization (WHO) support.

NFPG played a key coordinating role by producing policy briefs, organising stakeholder consultations, and convening forums where traditional healers, women, young people and rural leaders contributed directly to shaping the legislation. This participatory approach ensured that community knowledge systems and local health priorities informed the draft act.

Engagements with the Ministry of Health enabled NFPG and TRAHASS representatives – including strong women leaders – to advocate effectively for formal recognition of traditional medicine.

Significance of impact

These policy developments are transformative for traditional healers, granting them formal recognition and legal protections for the first time. The act aims to make herbal health services safer and more accessible while safeguarding Indigenous knowledge and strengthening the cultural identity of healer communities.

The drafting process has already enhanced collaboration between the Ministry of Health and traditional practitioners, promoting a more inclusive, trusted and culturally grounded health system.

Once validated, the act will enhance public safety, regulate herbal products and expand economic opportunities for TRAHASS members. It will also strengthen NFPG’s role in national health platforms, improving representation of rural producers and traditional knowledge holders.

Conclusion

Through FFF’s targeted support, NFPG and TRAHASS have succeeded in driving a major policy shift that protects traditional medicine practitioners and advances community health priorities.

Their efforts have laid the foundation for a more inclusive and culturally responsive health governance system across The Gambia.

Promoting traditional medicine

Forest and Farm Facility activities

Significance of impact

Conclusion

Further reading