Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
South African Press Association (Johannesburg) - January 21, 2003
In a media statement released after the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial meeting on nutrition and HIV/Aids, Tshabalala-Msimang said: "There is a need to ensure that we strengthen our nutrition and health promotion programmes to ensure that people know what food is good for their health.
"Good nutrition is critical... for success of any medical intervention against diseases including Aids-related treatment.
"The challenge of food security in the region needs to be addressed if we are to be successful in our endeavour to promote healthy diet and lifestyle in the region."
Tshabalala-Msimang said the SADC commended the efforts of member states to assist the 14-million people in the region threatened with famine.
Tshabalala-Msimang said experts had presented information to the meeting about the usefulness of traditional herbal medicines.
"These medicines are widely available, more affordable to all and most of them have a simple treatment regimen."
There was still a gap in the regulation of these products.
There was a need to enhance capacity within the regulatory authorities to enable them to test the efficacy of these products and to conduct clinical trials of these medicines, she said.
The intellectual property of traditional practitioners should also be protected./sb
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