Seminar on Traditional Chinese Medicine for African English-speaking Countries; 13th October to 11th November, 2014
I attended the above seminar through the nomination of the Ministry of Devolution and Planning through KEMRI and the sponsorship of the Economic and Commercial Ministry of the People’s Republic of China and Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The seminar gave the participants a theoretical background and some clinical application of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) including basic training of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to therapy. Some of the covered key areas included:
- Fundamental theory of TCM
- Diagnosis and syndrome differentiation in TCM
- Clinical application of acupuncture
- Clinical application of therapeutic massage (tuina)
- Nutrition and medicine diet
- Functional foods
- TCM in the management of partial chronic diseases
- Progress of Integrative Medicine in China
The training was conducted on 27 participants from a number of English-speaking countries. The facilitators were practicing TCM clinicians and academics. It highlighted the success of traditional medical science and especially the integration of traditional medicine and Western Medicine (conventional medicine). These learning points are key in the development of our native medicine and its integration into primary healthcare for the betterment of human health. Collaboration with the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences is recommended.
I acknowledge the Ministry of Devolution and Planning and the Kenya Medical Research Institute through the Director, Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drugs Research Dr P G Mwitari for the nomination to attend this seminar and the Economic and Commercial Ministry of the People’s Republic of China and Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences for the sponsorship.
Figure 1 Dr Kuria receiving certificate of completion from Mr. He Jun, Secretary of Party Committee, Xiyuan Hospital
Figure 2The team of participants after completion of the training
Figure 3 The participants on a tour of the Summer Palace, Beijing