Durban Brings Traditional Medicine and Modern Healthcare Into the Same Conversation

Durban has placed the role of traditional medicine firmly in the healthcare spotlight as eThekwini Municipality marked African Traditional Medicine Day with a programme focused on research, public health awareness and universal health coverage. Hosted at Albert Park by the City’s Health Directorate and Traditional and Complementary Healer Support Section, the event highlighted how traditional health practices can contribute to community well-being when supported by stronger research, regulation and collaboration with modern healthcare services. Educational activities also raised awareness around Alzheimer’s disease, rabies, albinism and HIV/AIDS, broadening the day beyond traditional remedies to include major public-health concerns affecting local communities. The 2026 theme — “Reflection on Research and Development Efforts of Traditional Medicine Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in the African Region” — reflects a wider continental push to ensure traditional medicine is studied scientifically and integrated safely where evidence supports its use. The World Health Organization has similarly emphasised that traditional health practitioners remain an important first point of care for many African communities, while calling for stronger quality assurance, safety standards and investment in research. For Durban, the commemoration highlighted a growing healthcare conversation: how indigenous knowledge and modern medicine can work alongside one another to improve access to trusted, culturally relevant and evidence-informed care.