Introduction This video can be viewed in its entirety or via short video clips sorted along themes (blue underlined) which emerged during the debriefing. This debriefing was organized by the Knowledge and Learning Group as part of AFTQK's knowledge sharing and learning services, and was undertaken in Hyderabad on June 27, 2004. Sri Lanka Debriefing - Full Video (39:27 min). Introduction (1:05 min). Agenda: Sri Lanka, Adilabad, Kurnool, Adilabad (1:00 min). Medicinal Plants Project is funded by GEF. The major objective of the project was in the context of Sri lanka's Ministry of indigenous Ayurvedic Medicine to help safeguard endangered species (10:10 min). Documentation of Existing Traditional Knowledge and the availability of TK for storage and preservation, dissemination. TK archives have been kept since 19th century documented in palm leaves. Project transcribes and publishes this information (1:06 min). Community Work. They have tried to promote and follow a village development approach. As part of this effort, they have raised awareness about the issues, discussed with the communities what the priorities are and created community-based plans. After establishing community based plans, the priorities related to natural resources management were addressed by communities with the help of project (1:03 min). Measures Implemented (1:35 min). 1) Buffer zone management 2) fire belts 3). Income generating activities such as herb gardens, medicinal plant gardens for eco-tourism 4). Project infrastructure handed over to the communities
Wrap-up to project "is in a few days. Has been in the context of an NRM project, it has been an innovative approach due to its village development activities" (38 sec). Visits to the Minister and Ayurvedic Clinic and Research Center. Sri Lanka has a separate ministry for Ayurvedic medicine. Financial outlay is 5% of financial outlay of conventional ministry of health. The two ministries hardly speak to each other; on an institutional and political level they are at odds. "There seems to be a need for these communities of practice to develop a rapport with each other that has not yet developed" (2:01 min). History of Cooperation between traditional medicine and the Ministry of Health and steps taken (34 sec). Establishing Standards for Medicinal Plants. Have developed an approach that is not scientific but as descriptive. Established standards without having to go through entire length of scientific proof of efficacy as Western medicine demands (1:09 min). 1). CD approaches to resource management makes sense.
2). Appropriate policy environment is critical
3). There is a need for practitioners in the community of practice to talk to each other
4). Developing standards makes sense in the context of traditional practitioners.
Feedback from the Group (9:41 min). Statistics on Ayurvedic Practitioners - Availability, affordability, location (37 sec ). Question and Answer Session Discussion of organizational structure by Sam Kahkobwe (4:16 min). No Established, Formalized Exchange between the traditional and Western, modern sectors. On a practical level, people work with each other but there is no cross-referral system (25 sec). Conflict Between Conventional and Traditional Medicine Systems conventional medicine and indigenous medicine. It seems to be a power issue. The conventional system is sitting in power. They’ve learned to look down on traditional medicine. "Maybe by having a separate ministry, they avoid the discussion altogether". They have more power and have never had a formalized encounter between the practitioners. In the public, traditional medicine seems to be relevant and important. There is a high degree of awareness and utilization, yet on the political level there is a schism that they cannot cooperate (5:51 min). Concluding Remarks (27 sec). |
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