Traditional doctors and herbal medicine practitioners in the country are calling for more government attention to bring their practice to the fore as a vital part of the nation’s healthcare system and accord them the deserved respect like their Western medicine colleagues.
The trado medical and herbal medicine practitioners under their umbrella, the National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) called on governments at all levels, to formulate policy that will promotes indigenous medicine practice.
The association made the plea during its 2024 Southwest Zone National Conference, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Federation of International Astro on the Practice of Traditional Medicine in Nigeria, at Olumo Rock Auditorium Hall, Ikija Abeokuta.
Speaking at the conference tagged; “The Impacts of NAFDAC in the preparation and selling of herbal medicine in Nigeria”. NANTMP National President, Alhaji Shaaba Mekudi, said the practice should be regarded as conventional medicine with necessary government’s backing, such as provision of resources and logistics for research.
He also called for availability of modern equipment, regulatory agencies and removal of needless bottlenecks, among others.
Mekudi urged the National Assembly to step up action on the passage of the bill that establish Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Council of Nigeria (TCACN).
He said noted that “the establishment of the council will help to regulate the practice of traditional medicine in accordance with what is suitable for our country and upscale its standards such that it will meet up with the international expectations”.
In his lecture, African Regional Coordinator for the United Nations Federation of International Astro (UNFIA), Prof. Olumuyiwa Babalola, stated that the federation’s presence in the country represented an exciting opportunity to elevate, empower and integrate traditional medicine as a vital part of our national healthcare system.
“Through training programmes, the United Nations Federation of International ASTRO aims to work closely with practitioners to standardise and enhance these practices, ensuring that patients receive safest and most reliable health care services possible. My organisation is going to introduce certificate of alternative medicine course in partnership with the Ministry of Health across the country to build trust and confidence between the public and practice’’, he revealed.
Contributing, Nigerian Zonal Director of the National Food and Drugs Control, (NAFDAC), Mrs. Roselle Ajayi in her lecture, said the Agency controls consumable items in the country, to ensure safety of the citizens, affirming that Alternate Medicine Practitioners was one of the key sectors that maintains cordial relationship with the agency, towards ensuring standard packaging of the products.
Also speaking, Chairman, Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board, Balogun Nurudeen Olaleye, appreciated organisers and participants at the event, saying the present administration in the state had done a lot in promoting the practice, while adequate laws had been put in place to make the practice easy for the practitioners in the State.
Contributing, Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board Registrar/ Executive Secretary, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, lauded NANTMP Southwest Zones for bringing the conference to the state, assuring them of the state government support for the practice and ready to partner with any group or individual in any areas of production.
Lending his voice, South-West President of NANTMP, Samson Soyoye, said the importance of the conference cannot be over-emphasised, as it would broaden horizon of members on how to go about their business without running foul of the laws.
