The Federal Government has called on Nigerian Universities to introduce the study of Bachelor of Science Degree Programme in Herbal Medicine as well as incorporate modules on Herbal Medicine into the curricula of Health Science Students.
This call was made by the Honourable Minister of State Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora at a Press Briefing to mark the occasion of the 2019 African Traditional Medicine Day Celebration with the theme: Integration of Traditional Medicine in the Curricula of Health Science Students in Universities in the African Region. The event took place today at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s (SGF) Conference Hall, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase 1, Abuja.
The Minister of State said that, “earlier at the 2001 gathering of African Heads of States in Abuja, the year 2001 – 2010 was declared as the decade of African Traditional Medicine (ATM) to enable the African Region promote, develop and integrate traditional medicine into the main healthcare delivery system”, while stressing that, “the region is encouraged to verify claims through documentation, research, quality control and standardization of herbal medicines”. Mamora revealed that, in line with the theme for this year, the Federal Ministry of Health has been involved in training of traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria across the six geo-political zones.
He stated that the ultimate goal of government intervention in this multidisciplinary sector is to derive maximum health, economic and social development benefits from traditional medicine as currently being enjoyed by some countries like China, India, Japan, United Kingdom, USA, Thailand etc. The Minister therefore urged all States of the Federation and the FCT to establish Departments of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, particularly in view of the readiness of the present Administration to support researchers and manufacturers to formulate and commercialize indigenous medicinal products for the benefit of our people in particular and humanity in general.
Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Matshidiso Moeti represented by Clement Peters in his goodwill message said the WHO has developed and field-tested traditional medicine training tools with Pharmacy and Medical students in 14 member states and is committed to working with other member states to further integrate the practice of traditional medicine in National Health System. Similarly Director General, National Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) Mojisola Adeyeye, said that NAFDAC has put in place the National Herbal Medicine Product Office which took off in March this year, where academia’s and herbalist were brought together to foster the translation of traditional medicine into products.
Also present at the occasion were representatives of Chief Executive Officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Director General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development amongst others.
Eunice Akro
AD (Press & Public Relations)
