The Managing Director, Fekomi Global, Komiyo Lawrence Adefemi has called for the integration of herbal medicine or Africa traditional health knowledge and practice into higher educational institutions as a certified program and licensed field of study in Nigeria and Africa at large.
In an open letter, Adefemi congratulated President Tinubu upon assuming into office, noting that he is fully confident that the president will deliver.
He said: “Based on your sparkling record, our expectations are huge; our trust in your ability is far above the sky.
“Your Excellency, why the focus remains on the kinetic approach to tackling the country’s economic challenge is indeed and indeed necessary, it is important in my humble opinion that you also pay much attention to a very missing component of the health and education system.”
Speaking on the need for integration, Adefemi said: “The problem of Herbal medicine in Nigeria is that it is not well documented. Practitioners all over the country have died not having recorded the knowledge of Herbal medicine for descendants.
“How long do we wish to let go of our ancestor’s knowledge? Our fathers lives for many years without modern medicine, yet, they solely depended on Africa’s Traditional health systems. Yes, modern medicine is here to stay, should that mean we should trash Herbal medicine?”
Adefemi explained that reforms in the education and health landscape in Nigeria and Africa have triggered the long overdue dialogue among different institutions of learning.
He said: “Firstly, with proper training and certifications, Nigeria will be producing professionally certified herbal medicine practices recognized by biomedical systems, prescribing, and administering in his qualified field.
“Secondly, the opportunity of being at the forefront of plant-based drug research. Thirdly: the economic advantages: a successful drug discovery lead to huge commercialization. Integrating herbal medicine into our high institutional system, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose
“Due to the lack of knowledge and awareness among biomedical health workers, more often than not the use of traditional medicine goes unnoticed or is not even interrogated during health assessments of patients.
“Traditional health workers are often indicted in instances where there are adverse health outcomes for patients who seek medical care in health facilities after having sought help from such traditional health practitioners.
“These points to a dire need for the preparation of biomedical health workers for them to be aware of traditional health prescriptions for such patients and where possible, collaborate with traditional health practitioners.”
He advised that practical and realistic strategies at policy levels must also address the existing gaps in integrating the multifaceted health system.
According to him, to achieve this, support is required from policymakers in ensuring the recognition and respect for African indigenous knowledge systems across all spheres of health care.