[afro-nets] The Role of Traditional Medicine in Reproductive Health

[Africa First <info@africa-first.com>]

Outcome of Global Conference on the Role of Traditional Medicine
in Reproductive Health
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COMMUNIQUE

The Global Conference on the Role of Traditional Medicine in Re-
productive Health commenced with traditional and spiritual ritu-
als at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minnesota, U.S.A., on
July 26, 2005. The main purpose of that global conference was to
harness the thoughts and experiences of conventional and tradi-
tional healthcare providers, and professionals to discover the
most effective ways to improve the healthcare practice at the
community level, and how best to successfully integrate tradi-
tional/indigenous medicine into global clinical practice.


SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBMISSIONS

The following submissions were made:
(1) ?In The Fullness of Time: Traditional and Contemporary Medi-
cine? By Dr. E. Richard Atleo, Hereditary Chief of The Ahousaht,
British Columbia, Canada.
(2) ?Eliminating Inhumane Barriers in Medical Practice: An Allo-
path?s Perspective? by Richard Nagler, MD, Department of Inter-
nal Medicine, Barron Medical Center-Mayo Health System, Wiscon-
sin, USA.
(3) "Consciousness and Traditional Medicine Among Salish Tribes
of the Pacific Northwest" by Dr. Rudolph Ryser, Member, Teit-
napum Cowlitz Tribe, Founding Chair and Executive Director, Cen-
ter for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia, Washington, USA.
(4) ?Ancient Wisdom and Modern Knowledge: Birth Practices and
Mother-Baby Care? by Suzanne Arms and Ken Farmer, Birthing The
Future, Bayfield, Colorado.
(5) ?Ancient Wisdom and Modern Knowledge: Identifying, Prevent-
ing and Healing Birth-related Traumas in Babies and Mothers: by
Suzanne Arms, Birthing The Future, Bayfield, Colorado.
(6) "The Use of Guided Imagery as a Healing Tool Against Cancer
and Other Catastrophic Diseases" by Dr. Patti Leviton, Board
Member, American Holistic Health Association, USA.
(7) "The Adverse Effects of Chemical Dependency On American In-
dian Communities" by Suzanne Koepplinger, Executive Director,
Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, Minneapolis, Minne-
sota, USA.
(8) "Since In Science, Beliefs Are Presented As Theories, Can
Research Into Specific Forms of Traditional Medicine Provide
Some Credence For Their Attendant Beliefs?" by Dr. E. Richard
Atleo, Hereditary Chief of The Ahousaht, Author and Co-Chair of
the Scientific Panel On Sustainable Forestry Practices, Clayo-
quot Sound, British Columbia, Canada.
(9) "Integrating Traditional and Integrative Medicine for the
Treatment of Diabetes In an Indigenous Community in rural Mex-
ico" by Dr. Rudolph Ryser on behalf of Dr. Leslie Korn, Direc-
tor, The Center for Traditional Medicine, Olympia, Washington,
USA.
(10) "Asian Medicine and Reproductive Health: Five Years of
Clinical Observations With a Refugee Population" by Barbara
Gosse, LAc, Hennepin Faculty Associates, Alternative Medicine
Clinic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
(11) "Traditional Medicine and International Policy: The Present
State of Self Determination" by Mirjam Hirch, MA, Fellow in Tra-
ditional Healing Arts Policy, Center for World Indigenous Stud-
ies, Frankfurt, Germany.
(12) "Utilization of Complementary and Integrative Medicine In
Women's Health" by Marc S. Micozzi, MD, PhD, Director, Policy
Institute for Integrative Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital, Philadelphia, USA.
(13) "Understanding Sexual and Reproductive Health Problems
Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Males" by Mick Ad-
ams, Board Member, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled
Health Organisation, and Doctorial Student, Queensland Univer-
sity of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
(14) "Defending The Right To Preserve Native American Indians'
Traditional Medicines and Waters" by Patricia Bellanger, Repre-
sentative of International Indian Treaty Council, Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
(15) ?The Role of Traditional Healing Practices In Women?s Re-
productive Health ­ The Connection To the Land, Spirit and the
Past? by Mahinekura Reinfeld and Ruapounamu Dromgool, Maori Tra-
ditional Healers, Taranaki, New Zealand.
(16) "Integrated Health Care (The New World Medicine): From The
Perspective Of A Holistic Physician" by Carolyn Torkelson, MD,
MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine & Commu-
nity Health, Women's Health Center, University of Minnesota.
(17) American Indian Movement: Fulfilling the Prophecy" by Clyde
H. Bellecourt, Executive Director, American Indian Movement,
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(18) ?Traditional Phyto-therapy in response to Reproductive
problems in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province,
South Africa? by Sejabaledi Rankoana, Lecturer, School of Social
Sciences, University of Limpopo, South Africa.
(19) "The Causes of Infertility In Men and the Successes and
Challenges of Modern Medicine To Prevent or Cure It" by Profes-
sor Jon Pryor, Chair, Department of Urologic Surgery at the Uni-
versity of Minnesota, past Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of
Andrology and Past-President of the American Society of Androl-
ogy, Minnesota.
(20) "Testosterone Levels In Aging Men: How much is enough?" by
Dr. Bruce Redmon, Assistant Professor of the Department of
Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minne-
sota.
(21) ?The Impact and Prevention of HIV/AIDS Among African Commu-
nity in Minnesota? by Elizabeth Namarra, HIV/STD Section, De-
partment of Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(22) "The Application of Herbal Texts as a tool to Resurrect
Lost Traditional Medicine Knowledge" by Eric J. Buenz, Ethno-
botanist, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Complementary & Inte-
grative Medicine Program, Rochester, Minnesota.
(23) "The Beginning of our Life Journey" by Dr. Zeal Okogeri,
Chiropractor, Spiritual Scholar & Author, Minneapolis, Minne-
sota.

DECLARATIONS

After three days of engaging deliberations, the Global Confer-
ence on the Role of Traditional Medicine In Reproductive Health
adjourned on July 28, 2005, with the declaration and proclama-
tion of the following principles:
(1) That in order for traditional medicine to thrive for the
benefit of mankind, Traditional Healing Practices and Researches
must be guaranteed to all peoples by states? governments and in-
digenous governments alike.
(2) That Traditional Healing Practice and Conventional Medicine
Practice must be recognized in parallel and not integrated one
into the other.
(3) That each indigenous nation must reclaim control over their
knowledge through indigenous science and research, to extend
traditional knowledge for the benefit of each nation.
(4) That the outcome of this conference must be submitted for
further action at the Ghana Global Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tradi-
tional Medicine & Indigenous Knowledge, slated for March 14-18,
2006.
(5) That the achievement of the March 14-18, 2006 Ghana Global
Summit on HIV/AIDS, Traditional Medicine & Indigenous Knowledge
must be solidified by the objectives of the Indigenous Healing
Conference On Chronic Diseases (Cancer, Diabetes, Mental and
Heart Illnesses) planned for Minneapolis, Minnesota for July 12-
15, 2006.
(6) Support the terms and conditions contained in all previous
and subsequent Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
including the Indigenous Peoples of the World Working Group
Draft Declaration.

Contact Africa First, LLC., mailto:info@africa-first.com for the
full terms of the Scientific and Technical Report of the confer-
ence. 


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________________________________________________________

30 Years GTZ. Partner for the Future. Worldwide.
GTZ Spotlight 2005: Focus - Fascination - Future: Designing tomorrow's cities. http://www.gtz.de/spotlight