The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olurunnimbe Mamora has stressed the need for Africa to reflect on the promotion and development of research and the integration of traditional medicine into the health care delivery system.
Ekwi Ajide of our Abuja bureau reports that Dr. Mamora spoke at a Ministerial press briefing to mark the 2020 African Traditional Medicine Day with the theme “Two Decades of African Traditional Medicine 2001-2020, What Progress in Countries.
The Minister said that the current COVID-19 pandemic has brought the international community to its knees due to its ravaging effect on health, economy and social well-being of humanity, with countries inevitably being forced to look inwards for local solution which calls for stock taking of achievements and failure in traditional Medicine sector.
According to him, Madagascar came up with a herbal product, called COVID Organics an acclaimed preventive and curative for COVID-19, adding that though the claim is yet to be scientifically proven, it would not be out of place to acknowledge the effort which is a good step in the African continent.
He commended the efforts of some Nigeria herbal practitioners who made similar moves and urged them to step forward to be counted.
Dr. Mamora disclosed that Nigeria has over eight thousand species of medicinal plants which provides fruits for the production of agro allied pharmaceutical raw materials, herbal and trado medicines, body care products among others.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullahi said that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the International Community it has become necessary to look at strategies by all countries to tackle the Corona Virus.
A member of the ad-hoc Committee on Health, at the National Assembly, Dr. Shehu Balarabe Kakale, reiterated their support for the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government in tightening the loopholes in the area of Alternative, Traditional and Complimentary Medicine for the benefit of Nigerians.
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