The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olurunnimbe Mamora has stressed the need for Africa to reflect on how well it has fared in the promotion, development of research and ultimate integration of traditional medicine into the main stream of 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 celebration with the theme “Two Decades of African Traditional Medicine 2001-2020, What Progress in Countries.
The Minister, said the current COVID-19 pandemic has brought the entire world 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 makes the time for stock taking of achievement and failure in traditional Medicine sector, imperative now.
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 low hanging fruits for the production of agro allied pharmaceutical raw materials, herbal medicines, trado medicines and body care products among others.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullahi had in his opening remarks said that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world; it has become increasingly necessary to look at strategies by all countries to tackle the novel Corona Virus.
A member of the ad-hoc Committee on Health, at the National Assembly, Dr. Shehu Balarabe Kakale, reiterated 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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