Participants discuss innovative solutions to eradicate treatments using endangered wild animals and their derivatives at a workshop in Hanoi on June 8. (Photo: VNS/VNA) The event was jointly organised by TRAFFIC, a non-governmental organisationworking globally on trade in wild animals and plants in biodiversityconservation and sustainable development, in partnership with the VietnamOriental Traditional Medicine Association.
The workshop provided participants with knowledge on the link and the impact ofcontinued use of endangered species on social safety, public health risks, andconservation of wild species. The event featured a concerted discussion onfeasible, comprehensive, and consistent measures that various actors in the TMsystem can apply.
"COVID-19 shines the spotlight on wildlife trade. More than ever, it'stime to combat the illegal wildlife trade in the linkage with the public healthsector. Disease prevention is far more effective and less costly than diseasecontrol," said Dr Hoang Thi Hoa Ly, Chief of Office,Traditional Medicine Administration, Ministry of Health.
"We favour efforts to stop the unsustainable demand for wildlife species,particularly for medicinal purposes, as a proactive and preventive means tofuture zoonotic spread. It also aligns with the national TM strategy where theuse of TM natural ingredients must not threaten the ecosystem and thepopulation of wild fauna and flora."
Participants agreed that the balance with nature is a key point of the TMsector, and the use of endangered animals for medical purposes is againstnature. The alternative is the wise approach to shaping and sustaining the newhealthcare habits. On the other hand, collapsing wildlife trade and consumptionsystems is an integral response to future pathogen spread and zoonoses.
Dr Nguyen Van The, head of the Traditional Medicine Department under theMinistry of Public Security, called on TM practitioners and society to adoptscientific, effective, and sustainable health treatment practices.
"The continued use and prescription of various wild species, likely rhinohorn, tiger products and pangolin scale, should be replaced by other availableand even more effective TM ingredients. Vietnam’s traditional medicine is partof the country, but we should care for both human health and animals. If wecontinue using endangered species, it will damage our reputation," saidThe.
TRAFFIC Vietnam Office Director Nguyen Tuyet Trinh said: "TM practitionershave a huge influence on what patients choose to buy. I believe that most TMpractitioners are willing to change their habits and switch to safe, legal andsustainable plant-based alternatives. TRAFFIC is committed to helpingaccelerate this change by empowering the TM sector in taking concreteaction to cut down the consumption of wild species in healthtreatments."
The workshop is part of the initiative to reduce the use of rhino horn as amedicinal remedy funded by the WWF Germany. Such efforts are crucial insustaining the population of rhinos and other endangered species and thebalance of the ecosystem.
While much of the crime involves the illegal use of rare materials such asivory and rhino horn for social display or decorative purposes, another areathat partly drives the illicit global wildlife trade is illegal wildlifeproducts in traditional medicine.
The 2020 TRAFFIC consumer survey revealed that one out of four TM practitionersprescribed or recommended rhino horn, pangolin, or tiger products to patientsin the past two years. Promoting wellness and treating illness are key driversof use and purchase./.
VNA
