Nine traditional healers in The Gambia have graduated from six months of training in Naturopathy and Holistic Medicine from the Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine & Technology, Ashaiman, Ghana. The Nyarkotey College is Ghana’s first recognised college by the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) of the Ministry of Health.

The nine traditional healers who graduated from the six months programmes in naturopathy were members of the National Traditional Healers Association of The Gambia (TRAHASS).

The graduation was part of the activities that heralded the  1st National Conference on Traditional and Alternative Medicine organised by the healers that took place at the Gambia College, Brikama.

The training was a result of a scholarship package worth 10,000 dollars provided by the president of the college, Prof Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, who has been in the country to pursue his legal education at the Gambia Law School.

Prof Nyarkotey admonishes modern naturopaths to strive to adhere to the standard in the practice of natural medicine. He also advised not to be at loggerheads with mainstream practitioners as medicine is not competition and integration is key in the modern era. He urged them to collaborate with mainstream practitioners and refer cases beyond their control to save their patients. He further admonished them to practice within their scope of practice to avert cases of medical negligence in their profession.

On their part, the president, Mr Saliue Puye, of the traditional healers thanked Professor Nyarkotey for such an upliftment and recognition of their practice.  He also notes that not many people would do what Professor Nyarkotey has done for the traditional healers since he arrived in the country to pursue his legal education, but he has done more to help them get huge recognition in their trade in The Gambia and the global front. 

On behalf of the healers, Mr Puye asserts that the coming of Professor Nyarkotey to The Gambia was the light to raise awareness and introduce them to modern naturopathy. They had not heard about naturopathy and thus he was the first person to bring naturopathy to The Gambia.