Fake publicity: Gov’t announces crack-down on tradi-practitioners

By Tamfu Harrison Bawe in Yaounde

Publicity-seeking tradi-practitioners who spend most of their time on radio, television and on the pages of newspapers; advertising their products will soon face the strong arm of the law. News organs which act as accomplices in the fake publicity of traditional medicine may also not be spared.

A highly-dependable source in the ministry of public health hinted The Guardian Post at the week-end that the decision has been taken to stop what he calls “Fake media publicity on traditional medicine despite repeated warnings by public officials”.

Worthy to note that the announcement to crackdown on tradi-practitioners who continue to inundate radio and television airwaves and pages of newspapers with publicity about their products is coming barely days after one of such well-known publicity-seeking tradi-practitioners was in Bamenda to tell journalists about the “wonders” and the “miraculous healing powers” of his products.

“Media outlets have become veritable channels for just any Tom, Dick and Harry who can pay to take up space and advertise cures for some of the most difficult diseases; many which have proven to be incurable”, our informant lamented.

On the sidelines of the observation of the public health official quoted above, it is common to hear on radio, watch on television or read on the pages of newspapers advertisement like “The miraculous power, the balm of Africa”, “Healing miracles all over the place, where there is no cure, --- is the hope and answer”.

But according to the law that will soon be reinforced, perpetrators of such fake publicity will henceforth face the strong arm of the judiciary. It should be recalled that articles 42 and 43 of the December 29, 2006 law on publicity proscribes advertising medicine and practices in the media. Our informant added that the punishment on defaulters may range from suspension to eventual closure of their clinics all over the country.

Our informant was however categorical that health sensitization campaigns like that carried out by Cameroon’s leading international tradi-practitioner, Dr. Dewah, will not attract any sanction(s). “We encourage other tradi-practitioners in the country to emulate the kind of media health sensitization campaigns Dr. Dewah is doing”, he said.

Gullible and helpless patients have equally been warned by health authorities to be ware of tradi-practitioners who spend time on radio, television and on the pages of newspapers advertising products whose effectiveness have not been scientifically proven.

“This group of tradi-practitioners who spend time advertising their products instead of doing health sensitization campaigns are just out to make money”, the senior health official warned.