based on an article by Ariel Swartz
Dr. Addae Mununkum, a cardiothoracic surgeon and native Ghanaian, has dedicated his career to facing a national dilemma, Ghana’s lack of medical doctors. As the Ministry of Health reports, there are merely 1,500 physicians available to treat 22 million citizens. The majority of the sick and injured are left to seek help from one of 250,000 traditional herbal practitioners. Without formal training institutions, almost all traditional herbal practitioners lack regulation or science-based knowledge.
Dr. Addae’s mission was to open the College of Integrative Medical Science (CIMS) in Kumasi, the first of its kind, promoting a holistic and pluralistic form of health care through integration of western allopathic and traditional African herbal medicine. Drawing recent interest, Dr. Addae’s vision was realized. Traveling through Village Volunteers in July, Doctors Lisa and Richard Coico volunteered to help Dr. Addae establish an important strategic alliance and bring the college into being.
Finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding, the doctors bridged two medical schools, Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University and America’s Temple University. This bridge allows for accreditation of degree programs in integrative medicine by the National Accreditation Board, providing exchanges between both schools, enhancing levels of scientific contribution, and offering support of teaching materials and laboratory equipment.
CIMS joins together medical and herbal practitioners, pharmacists, nutritionists, psychologists, and midwives. These health care professionals will participate in class-based courses, research partnerships, and collaborative opportunities. They will also offer clinical services and cutting-edge natural and conventional medical care to the citizens of Ghana.
CIMS commits to providing accessible health care to the nation and is devoted to initiating a sustainable health care system across the continent. To volunteer or to learn more, contact shana (at) villagevolunteers.org or call 206-577-0515.