DAKAR, April 28 2010 – PROMETRA International has received a 3 year, $1,500,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct research and advocacy in the area of childhood immunizations, focusing on the role of African traditional healers and indigenous community leaders.  The project is entitled, Immunization Advocacy: Saving the Lives of Africa’s Children.
Dr. Erick Gbodossou, PROMETRA International President, is the principal investigator of the project which will access traditional healers’ understanding of and involvement in immunization programs.  The World Health Organization (WHO) documents that approximately 80% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa receives it health education and health care from practitioners of traditional medicine. PROMETRA International is the premier traditional medicine organization of the continent of Africa with chapters in 26 countries and a legacy built upon decades of on the ground experience and earned trust. Inadequate immunization coverage continues to hamper the health of the children of Africa and remains the cause of millions of preventable deaths.
“African traditional healers are revered, influential members of society providing both health care and health education to the majority of our African populations. They are often overlooked and misunderstood by modern medicine, yet their involvement in health programs is vitally important” states Dr. Gbodossou.
The project goal is to develop and execute a three year public health education and immunization project in three African nations (Benin, Nigeria and Senegal) that will have measurable impact on childhood immunization programs through informing government and donor supported immunization programs and the scientific academy at large of the role that traditional medicine and indigenous community and religious leaders play in immunization program utilization.  The main activity will be the design and execution of KAP (knowledge, attitude and perception) studies of African traditional healers and indigenous religious elders to ascertain their understanding and knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases, vaccines and current held beliefs/misconceptions regarding their use. PROMETRA Chapters in Benin, Nigeria and Senegal will partner with traditional medicine organizations, government ministries and immunization programs, Rotary International’s National PolioPlus Committees, religious organizations and indigenous groups to successfully execute this project. Specific focus groups will be conducted by project partner, Federation of Women Associations of Senegal (FAFS) to ascertain the immunization beliefs and practices of women (mothers and grandmothers) throughout Senegal. PROMETRA USA will provide technical assistance to the project.

Organizational Description - PROMETRA International (www.prometra.org) was established in 1971, and is an international NGO headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, whose purpose is to preserve African traditional medicine, culture and indigenous science through research, education, advocacy and practice.  It works to improve the health and well being of global communities through the use of quality traditional medicine and indigenous science and building bridges between modern and traditional systems of health care. PROMETRA International has twenty-six(26) chapters throughout Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and USA.  All chapters are officially recognized by their governments and maintain a national and regional  partnership network that includes government ministries, civil society organizations and grass roots organizations.  PROMETRA International conducts scientific research, hosts international conferences and cultural exchanges, publishes a quarterly bilingual journal entitled Medecine Verte, and coordinates a diaspora wide network. PROMETRA International partners with academic institutions throughout Africa, USA and Europe. We are the recipient of grants from international foundations, governments, individuals and bilateral donors.

For additional information please contact us at prometra@prometra.org