Hao Linduan, a member of the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team in Ghana and associate chief physician of the TCM department at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, speaks during the Third China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 8, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
by Justice Lee Adoboe
ACCRA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese medical experts and their Ghanaian counterparts on Thursday promoted the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ghanaian herbal medicine for women's health at the Third China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum in Accra, the Ghanaian capital.
Under the theme "Empowering Women, Sharing Health," the forum explores sustainable traditional medicine solutions, knowledge exchange, and women-centered health innovations from China and Ghana.
Hao Linduan, a member of the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team in Ghana and associate chief physician of the TCM department at the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, said women's health is vital to family well-being and national development, while noting that many women worldwide still face unique challenges in reproductive health, emotional management, and chronic diseases.
"We believe that traditional medicine, both Ghanaian and Chinese, with its holistic and preventive approaches, offers unique wisdom and effective solutions," he said.
Hao said he has witnessed the vitality of Ghanaian traditional medicine, adding that it shares similar core philosophies with TCM in its reverence for life and harmony with nature.
"Through our work, we hope to share the value of TCM and deepen China-Ghana collaboration in traditional medicine," Hao added.
Anastasia Yirenkyi, director of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate at Ghana's Ministry of Health, said Ghana has taken proactive measures to ensure that traditional medicine is practiced within a safe, regulated, and evidence-based environment.
Yirenkyi noted that throughout generations, traditional medicine has made significant contributions to women's health, addressing areas such as reproductive and maternal healthcare.
"Ghana's partnership with China in healthcare, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine, has yielded substantial benefits. Over the years, Chinese medical teams in Ghana have contributed to clinical service delivery, training, and knowledge exchange," she noted.
Yirenkyi reiterated the commitment of the health ministry to supporting research into traditional remedies for women's health, encouraging innovation that blends traditional knowledge with modern science, strengthening referral pathways between traditional medicine practitioners and orthodox facilities, and enhancing public education on the rational use of traditional medicine.
Sandra Ashong, president of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists, said many Ghanaian medicinal plants have successfully addressed feminine health issues, including menstrual disorders, fertility challenges, pregnancy-related conditions, postpartum recovery, and stress-related conditions.
Furthermore, through her experience working with the Chinese medical teams, she has seen the success of TCM methods, including acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion, successfully addressing women's health issues.
Organized by the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team in Ghana, the Health Community of West Africa, which is a Ghana-based Chinese private institution, and the Ghana Health Service, among other partners, the one-day forum brought together experts and practitioners of TCM, the Ghanaian herbal medicine fraternity, regulators, and public officials. ■
A member of the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team in Ghana demonstrates the making of sachets at the Third China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 8, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
Anastasia Yirenkyi, director of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate at Ghana's Ministry of Health, speaks during the Third China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 8, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
A staff member introduces traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products at the Third China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum in Accra, Ghana, Jan. 8, 2026. (Photo by Seth/Xinhua)
