On 29 August 2025, South Africa marked African Traditional Medicine Day with a vibrant national commemoration in Moruleng, Moses Kotane Local Municipality, reaffirming its commitment to integrating traditional medicine into the national health system. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla, the Chairperson of the Interim Traditional Medicine Practitioners Council, traditional health practitioners, and other dignitaries.
African Traditional Medicine Day, celebrated annually on 31 August, commemorates the landmark resolution adopted in 2000 by African health ministers during the 50th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The day recognizes the vital role of traditional medicine in providing accessible, affordable, and culturally rooted health care to millions across the continent.
Honouring tradition in Moruleng, South Africa, the sacred cleansing ritual of Mphepho sets the tone for the commemorations
WHO/ Eugene Mahlehla
Opening with a traditional cleansing ritual using Impepho, the ceremony honoured ancestral healing knowledge and its enduring relevance in modern public health. A key highlight was the practical demonstration by traditional health practitioners trained with WHO's support, showcasing their enhanced skills in managing noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. This followed a recent joint training of 51 practitioners and community health workers, underscoring WHO's commitment to strengthening community-based prevention, early detection, and referral systems.
In a statement delivered at the event, the WHO Representative reflected on 24 years of progress since the adoption of the African Regional Strategy on Traditional Medicine. The address highlighted South Africa's robust policy and legislative frameworks and welcomed the launch of the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034, which aims to elevate traditional medicine within global health discourse.
The commemoration emphasized several key priorities:
- integration of safe and effective traditional medicine into national health systems;
- strengthening regulatory and referral pathways;
- respecting indigenous knowledge and ensuring benefit-sharing; and
- fostering collaboration between traditional and biomedical practitioners.
Traditional African medicine, a holistic discipline combining indigenous herbalism and African spirituality, remains a cornerstone of health care for approximately 80% of Africa's population, particularly in rural areas where it is often the only accessible and affordable option.
South Africa's celebration reinforced its leadership in advancing traditional medicine within regional and global platforms, including the African Union, WHO, BRICS, and G20. The event served as a powerful reminder of the cultural and health value of African healing systems and the importance of regulated practice to enhance their contribution to primary health care.
