19 hours Ago By Rapheal
By Doris Obinna Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), has urged for standardisation of traditional medicines by way of encouraging indigenous drugs research in the country. Director General, NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, said this during an end of the year media parley to induct members of the media as ‘Journalists for Natural Medicines (JONAMED).
’ He spoke on the theme: “The Media as Natural Medicine Ambassadors,’’ stating that Nigeria should embrace traditional medicines and their teaching in Nigeria schools. He reiterated need for indigenous drugs research, emphasising that traditional medicines should be added in the curriculum of learning in schools: “Students in higher learning should enrol in schools to learn traditional medicines the same way they enrol to learn Pharmacy and other courses. It does not necessarily need to be taught by a professor with degrees.
” He stressed the need for Nigerians to be proud of their roots adding that traditional medicines were sustained in the past, hence the need for it to be standardised: “The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has accredited the agency as the awarding body for national skills qualification in traditional medicine in the country. “Eighty per cent of traditional medicines were highly effective in addressing health challenges, without pronounced side effects. Allopathic medicine and its composition were being taught in Nigerian schools, the same pride of place should be accorded traditional medicines.
“Before now, researchers were contracted to conduct research because it took us a long time to obtain a patent. And you know, you can’t obtain a patent without real data. “There are plans in addressing livestock diseases, with partnerships already established with the Netherlands and India to develop herbal remedies.
Additionally, the agency is prioritizing cures for snakebites, a significant public health concern, particularly in regions like Katungu, Gombe State, known for venomous snake populations. “The agency is poised to oversee the practice of spiritual healing within religious organisations. All spiritual healing, classified as a form of natural medicine, falls under the agency’s jurisdiction, which is why we are necessitating a regulatory enforcement.
“We are going to work with religious medicine practitioners and native medicine practitioners at all levels in order to enhance their practice. There must be standardisation of natural medicine across the board, and we have to develop standards with stakeholders, and we are not going to copy any country’s style. “The NNMDA is the sole government agency responsible for the research and development of natural medicines in Nigeria, which includes practices in both churches and mosques.
No medicine security in Nigeria. It is time to save the country from the siege of importation that was weakening its economy and ensure Nigerian traditional medicines got its security.”.
