Address at the African
Traditional Medicine Day (Wednesday September 12th, 2018).
The
PanAfrican Strategic and Policy Research Group (PANAFSTRAG) is a Membership
Organization of Global Africans (Africa and the African Union-Sixth Region)
with focus on issues and activities that are essential for the well-being of
and respect for African persons all over the world.
Therefore,
we need focus on Botany, Horticulture, Forestry, History of Indigenous Science
and Technology, Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), Bio-Archaeology, Medical
Anthropology and African Theology and Spirituality as Interdisciplinary and
Multi-Disciplinary approach in order to be competitive globally where the
above-mentioned subject falls.
There
was a meeting with the Department of Pharmacognosy in mid-February 2017 and a
follow up in mid-May to revitalize this essential activity.
It
is indeed commendable to see these consecutive celebrations as serious
commitment by the Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy of UNILAG. Kudos
once again to the entire team at the Department of Pharmacognosy, with the bold
leadership system of Prof. Odukoya, Dr. S.A. Adesegun, Dr. Mrs. Olugbende-Dada,
Dr. Odimegwu and all those who closed the say-do gap. Prof. Dr. Anselm Adodo, founder
of Pax-Herbal’s, presence demonstrates his dedication, passion and leadership
in this area and one of the unsung heroes of our country. We thank the Chair
for the career efforts to bring scientifically proven products with respectability
and order to this ancient well-being profession.
It
is estimated that 80% of Africa’s Population still use traditional medicine for
their basic health care. In many cases, this is the only option available and
easily affordable to the teaming masses. This field can therefore no longer be
ignored and completely relegated as a minor element of the total national
health and well-being system.
Our call for Undergraduate courses in Herbal
Medicine which are ongoing in South-Africa and Ghana respectively is yet to be
heeded as we continue to cry for more resources to be dedicated to research and
development in closer partnership with the practitioners.
We continue
to recognize the efforts of those who have worked in the past and today with
the Federal Ministry of Health to reposition herbal, alternative, complementary
and natural therapy through legislative instruments, policies and structures.
The creation of a full Directorate of Traditional, Alternate, Complementary
Medicine and Natural Therapy is a huge step forward. This Ministerial action
with funding of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development
(NIPRD) has further opened the doors for Universities to expand their
inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teaching and research in those areas.
We need modern herbal medicine with scientific
assurance to complement or alternate with the orthodox medicine.
Along this
line, the new DG, NAFDAC, Prof. C.M. Adeyeye is a specialist in this area and
she is working closely with her professional bodies- The Nigeria Association of
Pharmacists in the Academia and National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research
and Development. She has promised to continue the Annual Consultative Forum
with the Practitioners. She has also accepted in principle, to organize a
national and Continental Colloquia in the immediate future. There is also the possibility
of doing same on African Herbal products in collaboration with AU in Europe, USA
and the Caribbean.
PANAFSTRAG
sees the need for Federal, States and Local Governments to join all relevant Institutions
and bodies and come up with necessary resources for celebrating
the annual
traditional medicine day nationwide.
The time
is ripe for a serious dialogue between the professional medical/health care
related bodies, practitioners, institutions, think-tanks, manufacturers and
interested NGOs for the urgent rationalization of the present confusing
situation that is impacting on the poor, women and the aged who are the most
vulnerable. This dialogue is important in repositioning our traditional herbal
and other related health care and therapy framework at national and
international levels.
Finally, there
is still the need for expanding National and State Botanical and horticultural
nurseries, gardens and private herbal plants plantations across the entire
nation.
There
is no doubt that Nigeria with its increasing domestic demands and overseas
market stands to benefit more in economic terms just like the Asians(especially
the Chinese, Indians), South Africans and Ghana as well in social and political
terms. Hopefully, this day with the present Collaborators have demonstrated
greater will to regenerate greater national interest in this important aspect
of our lives as we need to actualize the “health is wealth” mantra.
PANAFSTRAG WITH ITS VERY LIMITED CAPACITY IS
READY TO WALK WITH ALL THOSE WITH SELFLESS COMMITMENTS TO WHERE WE MUST BE.
Olasehinde
Ishola Williams
PANAFSTRAG. note:If you need more of such article, you may email me: kingstonobelsamuel@gmail.
com
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