COVID-19 drew attention to potentials of traditional medicine – Minister

The outbreak of the COVID-19 in Nigeria drew attention to traditional medicine as has never been seen before, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has said. He said it made Nigerians and relevant health organisations to start thinking of developing a home-grown solution to health challenges. 72 hrs to end of year: Buhari yet to […]

The outbreak of the COVID-19 in Nigeria drew attention to traditional medicine as has never been seen before, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has said.

He said it made Nigerians and relevant health organisations to start thinking of developing a home-grown solution to health challenges.

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He stated this during the inauguration of the committee on the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Health and the University of Benin for the establishment of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Institute (TCAM).

Dr. Ehanire said the field, which has hitherto suffered neglect in the country.

“Certainly, there was no solution to COVID-19; everyone was groping in the dark.

“A lot of other alternatives were offered to us from international and local inventors which we shipped to our research institutions with many still under analysis,” he said.

The minister said India and China have done better in exploring the values of traditional medicine, adding that Nigeria has declared willingness to partner with these countries in learning as well as exploring the potentials.

He said the country has taken steps to mainstream traditional and complementary medicine by resetting the Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine Institute (TCAM), which was shut over 10 years ago.

He said the terms of reference of the committee include developing a curriculum and master plan for the TCAM institution.

Dr Ehanire said others include innovations that would generate funds for the institute, and also liaising with academic and degree awarding institutions on data and documentation of programmes, as well as identification of international collaborations.

Members of the committee include: Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Health, Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi as committee chairman and Professors MacDonald Idu and Ehijie Enato who represent the University of Benin on the Committee.

Others are Professor Ernest Ugo General, Ali Muhammad-Biu, and Professor Alphonsus Ekwerike  for Complementary and Alternative Medicine,  and Professor Lawal Bichi and Dr. Chigozie Nwachukwu Nwogu and Abubakar Muhammed Alhaji for traditional medicine practice.

Others include Dr. Sylvis Binder (Integrative Medicine); Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, representative of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and representative of the traditional institution: The Ooni of Ife,   as well as representatives of the various department of the ministry among others.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora said that the Committee would have to chart the way forward following the closure of the then Federal College of Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM), which failed the National Universities Commission (NUC)’s accreditation for non-compliance with approved standards.