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Tag: Medicine

  • Who regulates traditional medicine?

    Who regulates traditional medicine?

    National Complementary and Alternative Medical Association (NACAMA) President Prof Peter Katchy answers the first question. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Towersea Nigeria Limited, Dr Solomon Abutoh, handles the second.

    The attention of the National Complementary and Alternative Medical Association (NACAMA) Nigeria has been drawn to allegations in some quarters that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has been regulating traditional medicine practice in Nigeria.

    This is untrue and laden with falsehood, deceit and ignorance.

    The Medical and Dental Practitioners (Amendment) Act No. 78 of 1992 Or CP M8 2004 has the following interpretations that naturopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy and homoeopathy are under alternative medicine in Nigeria.

     

    What is alternative medicine?

    Alternative medicine generally refers to practice not typically used in allopathic practice or conventional orthodox medicine. What we consider alternative medicines are the different approaches to the management of ailments through the different practice groups that made up the alternative medicine. It has pharmaceutical processes, empirical values and pharmacopeia which are recognised across the world.

    The pharmaceutical processes taken from materials extracted from three rubric of nature, that is, liquid, dry soluble and insoluble materials. They are characterised by marvelous simplicity and perfection devoid of petrochemicals and synthetic substances. Alternative medicine preparation of remedies is different in details and specification in consonance with ailments and remedies.

    Preparation of drugs and dispensing of drugs are pharmaceutical duties applied to various fields of alternative medicine. The materials that are converted into alternative medicine are produced as tinctures, syrups, tablets, capsules, injections, infusions, creams, ointments, powders and insertions, among others.

    Over the years in Nigeria, patients interest in alternative medicine’s mode of treatment have increased tremendously and the public has come to appreciate and rely on alternative medicine therapeutics.

     

    What is complementary medicine?

    Complementary medicine is thought of as treatments used in addition to alternative medicine and conventional allopathic orthodox methods. For example, chiropractic, magnotherapy (drugless applications) and radionic (electronic medicine) are also integrative medicine. This is because they can be combined with alternative and conventional health care delivery.

     

    Why alternative medicine is not traditional medicine (TM)?

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) defined traditional medicine as “the total combination of knowledge and practices whether applicable or not used in diagnosing, preventing or dominating a physical or mental or social disease and which may rely exclusively on past experience and observation handed down from generation to generation verbally or in writing”.

    TM are the healthcare delivery methods and practice that are directly traceable or related to culture and ancestral heritage of the people. Traditional medicine is classified into three categories.They are herbalism, spiritualism and occultism, traditional orthopaedics and surgeries.

     

    Who is a traditional medicine practitioner?

    The WHO says he is a person recognised by the community in which he lives as competent to provide healthcare by using vegetable, animal and mineral substances and certain other methods based on social, cultural and religious background as well as the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs that are prevalent in the community regarding physical, mental and social well-being and causes of disease and disability. From the above, it can be clearly seen that TM practitioners go with little or no education based only on experience handed down mainly orally from generation to generation and occasionally in writing.But a homoeopathical medical practitioner is always grounded with sound professional training and medical curricular education for the course duration in a medical college and must subscribe to Homoeopathic practitioners oath prior to practice.

    In this milieu aided by modern invented and available medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment, homoeopathic medical therapeutics are neither guess work nor tools to be toyed with by charlatans and quacks.

    Let  it  be categorically stated that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria  (MDCN) is not regulating TM and does not have such mandate as to stifle its progress as alleged in some quarters.

    The problem of CAM practice and NACAMA is wanton deceit and misrepresentation that CAM is Trado Medicine. Except a fraudster, no registered CAM nor NACAMA member will mingle with such group of no defined professional nomenclature.

  • Anambra student gets US degree in Medicine

    Anambra student gets US degree in Medicine

    Anambra State-born Ikenna Erinne has received a Doctorate Degree in Medicine (MD) from Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.

    Ikenna, who attended Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt, is an alumnus of Portland State University, Oregon, USA.

    His list of awards also include: M.D. Graduate Award Magna Cum Laude; Alpha Omega Alpha honour; Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Medical Microbiology.

    He has since started his six-year Residency and Fellowship programme in International Medicine and Cardiology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.

  • NAFDAC chief: herbal medicine key to healthcare delivery

    NAFDAC chief: herbal medicine key to healthcare delivery

    National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director-General (DG) Dr. Paul Orhii, has underscored the importance of herbal medicine to healthcare delivery.

    According to him, herbal medicine has a big role to play in healthcare.

    Orhii spoke when he visited the Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories in Ewu, Edo State.

    Orhii praised the centre’s high level of scientific research, quality assurance and good manufacturing practice, which he descibed as the best of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa.

    NAFDAC, he said, would continue to work with Paxherbals as partners in progress, adding that he would strengthen the capacity of traditional healers in ensuring quality assurance and good manufacturing practice.

    Orhii frowned at some herbal practitioners who make bogus and unsubstantiated claims about herbal cures and thanked Paxherbals for introducing true professionalism and scientific rigour in its research and production.

    He enjoined Fr. Adodo and his team to continue to be true ambassadors of herbal medicine in Nigeria and Africa.

    Orhii and team toured the ultra-modern facilities, which include the microbiology, quality control, chemistry and diagnostic laboratories, the herbarium, production and processing workshops.

    Responding, Director, Paxherbals, Fr. Anselm Adodo said:  “Paxherbals is the only herbal manufacturing company left in Nigeria that is still locally producing its herbal medicines, despite the harsh economic climate which makes it easier and more profitable to be an importer rather than a manufacturer.

    “It is no wonder that the Nigerian market is flooded with herbal products from China, India and other Asian countries, and from Europe. By so doing, Nigeria is creating wealth abroad and promoting poverty at home”.

    Adodo said:  “If NAFDAC wants to leave a lasting legacy for herbal medicine development in Nigeria, we are your best ally. If you want to set a sustainable standard for herbal medicine promotion and development in Nigeria, we are your best collaborator. If you want to make history by initiating the first clinical trial of herbal products for diabetes, malaria and hypertension (to mention a few) in Africa, we are your best bet. There are thousands of traditional herbal practitioners out there who have efficacious herbal recipes for serious chronic diseases. They need help and training in standardisation and packaging. Some of them are trying to set up tiny ‘factories’ in their backyard as laboratories. These people may never have the technical and financial capacity to meet NAFDAC requirements for registration. If they die with such valuable knowledge, posterity will not forgive us. Here at our centre, we empathise with them and we speak for them. They know us and they trust us. Most often, they accuse NAFDAC of being a bully rather than partner in progress. We are ready and willing to partner with NAFDAC to reach out to these people and assure them that NAFDAC is their friend not their enemy. For at the end of the day, what the agency under your administration will be remembered for is not how many local factories it managed to close down but how it was able to encourage, support, sustain and nurture local pharmaceutical companies and helped to preserve indigenous knowledge”.

    Head, Scientific Research and Development at Paxherbals, Prof Joseph Okogun urged NAFDAC to support herbal practitioners in drug standardisation, laboratory analysis and training, since many herbal practitioners do not have the financial capacity to operate a standard laboratory.

  • How to improve traditional medicine, by board chair

    How to improve traditional medicine, by board chair

    Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Chairman Dr Bunmi Omosehindemi has decried the lack of legal framework for traditional medicine regulation despite last year’s passage of the Health Bill. The bill recognises traditional medicine as part of the National Health System.

    Omosehindemi was addressing delegates from Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health that came to understudy his board’s management of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). It was a consensus stakeholder meeting.

    The team included former Health Commissioner, Dr. Emem Bassey; Director Public Health, Dr. Ebuk; Dr. Udoh of  Public Health department; Director PRS, Dr. Emmanuel Ekong; SAPC AKSASCP, Dr. John Markson; PMTCT focal person AKSASCP Mrs. Emem Xavier; PHC Director, Uyo, Mrs. Ubong Abasi Victor; Director Med Services HMB, Dr. Adiakapan; Technical Advisor MSH, Iboro Nelson; Technical Advisor MSH; Lami Samaila; Senior Technical Advisor MSH, Salami Musa and Associate Director MSH, Funmi Esan.

    Speaking on “Engaging traditional birth attendants for improved Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Services-Lagos State Experiencee,”  Omosehindemi said, his board derived its legal backing from the Health Sector Reforms of 2006.

    He said: “The vision of our Primary HealthCare (PHC) System in Lagos State, which is the closest to the people, is to develop a sustainable system where health promotion and disease prevention are emphasised and quality of life is enhanced through integrated services. Lagos State has formally recognised the value of traditional medicine in health systems, particularly in relation to the PHC System in particular and the overall healthcare system in general.

    “But the challenges faced include The Traditional medicine healthcare sector is somewhat challenging to regulate due to the following: Absence of uniform structure and standard protocol; lack of human resources in building the capacity of TBAs; inadequate funding for development of traditional medicine; lack of institutional framework to the development of traditional medicine and socio-cultural barriers and lack of cooperation from conventional health practitioners.

    Dr Omosehindemi said that despite these challenges, the board was able to train 4,780 TBAs; collaborating with PATHS-2 (Partnership for Transforming Health System 2) a DFID sponsored project aimed at improving maternal and child outcome in Lagos State to develop a database of all registered TBA facilities.

    “Indications for database are ante natal care (ANC) attendance; maternal deaths; immunisation; and a three-way referral – HIV screening, Pallor cases (deemed useful in the evaluation of patients suspected of anemia) and complications. As part of the strategies to reduce maternal mortality, the State is developing an incentive-based relationship with the TBAs to attend ANC Clinics with their clients or ‘permit’ their clients to attend ANC clinics in the PHC Centres and also encourage prompt referral of challenging deliveries. One of the incentives considered is the upgrading and furnishing of their clinics to create an enabling environment for the practice of Traditional Medicine.”

    “Identified best practices include Legislation Section 125 subsection 8 and section 126 subsection 161 of the Health Sector Reform Law allows linkages with relevant health institutions. The role of TBA in reducing maternal and infant mortality cannot be overemphasised. Hence there is need to build the capacity of the TBA in order for them to perform this essential role. There is need for proper integration of the TBAs into the mainstream Health Care System as provided for in the Health Bill of 2014,” stated Dr Omosehindemi.

    He encouraged the Akwa Ibom State government to sustain its interest in the development of traditional medicine because, “A larger percentage of Nigerians reside in rural communities where we lack properly trained hands in modern medical practices. The TBAs are usually their first point of contact. However, Traditional Bone Setters, Herbalists, Traditional Birth Attendants etc., already exist in our rural communities providing care for our people at affordable prices. In addition, Traditional healers have the ability to build more trust in the entire healing process due to the high depth of cultural competence applied and the close proximity to the patients.”

    The participants expressed their satisfaction over the weeklong event as they were able to visit the Lagos State General Hospital Agege to observe internship sessions and training of TBAs at hospital; review the 10-week internship/training curriculum and timetable and obtain copies and speak to the TBAs regarding their assessment and rating of the internship and the implications on their services.

  • Funding research ‘ll promote medicine, say experts

    Specialists in medicine have called for more funding for research and development to advance medicine in Nigeria.

    According to an embryologist Prof Oladapo Ashiru, more awareness and support for medical education are required to move the country’s healthcare forward.

    Ashiru spoke at the 14th Annual Scientific Conference of the Society of Experimental and Clinical Anatomists of Nigeria (SECAN), Lagos. It had as theme: Current trends in biomedical research; the sub-theme was: the anatomist: catalyst for medical education.

    He said funding research, especially in anatomy will move health care forward because “anatomists serve as a mechanism for promoting medical education.”

    The reproductive expert said there is need for advances in anatomical teaching and research to take Nigeria to the next level.

    This, he said, would lead to improved understanding of human system, and as such ensure longevity and better treatment outcome.

    Professor of Anatomy at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Abayomi Okanlawon said the Federal Government needs to provide more funding for research.

    He said the discovery of new medicine and therapies require careful scientific experimentation, development and evaluation.

    Okanlawon said research is a prerequisite for medical advances, adding: “It ensures that health services support improved delivery, access and cost.”

    He called for public-private partnership (PPP) to promote biomedical research and as such ensure medical education.

    The anatomist advised the government to set up research centres across the country to develop the healthcare industry.

    “The Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) has been promoting responsible and qualitative research to develop medicine,” he said.

    The future, he said, is for biomedical research to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems, adding that the knowledge will be applied to enhance human health, lengthen life and prevent illness and disability.

    SECAN President, Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi said anatomy as a discipline has faced a crisis of identity and purpose, adding that this has raised educational concerns.

    He said the approach to teaching of anatomy and medicine as a whole is shifting from its traditional methods to self-directed problem based or the integrated system oriented learning. “It is, therefore, taking advantage of E-teaching and learning,” Fawehinmi added.

  • How to get grants for traditional medicine care

    How to get grants for traditional medicine care

    Prof Olukemi  Odukoya, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and  leader of the research team in the Department of Pharmacognosy, answers the question below:

    The Lagos State Research and Development Council (LRDC) is a Lagos State Government initiative to drive research and innovation in Lagos State. Part of the objectives of the LRDC are to develop an economic and business climate that rewards innovation; develop and support initiatives that takes innovative ideas to implementation; enabling legislation and policies for innovation; develop human, physical and technological resources for innovation; create strong networks to facilitate the flow of ideas, expertise and knowledge for innovation; develop policies and incentives to encourage private-sector investment in innovation and research and development and also invest in research and innovation via grants, equity funding and match funding.

    The team at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) identified that there is a dearth of access to primary health care. And where available, may not be affordable. We made a proposal on this, i.e, making healthcare more accessible to Lagos residents. The proposal was successful and the project we proposed is already ongoing.

    It is a Model herbal clinic for the Department of Pharmacognosy in collaboration with the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB)with the aim of teaching, research and direct community assistance purposes where herbal medicines with proven efficacy through thorough, verifiable and reproducible research as a contributor to the primary health care of people. The project will translate the experience gained from the model herbal clinic located within the building of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos and equipped with formulations from the research efforts of the academic staff to model clinics within designated primary health centres in Lagos State.

    The title of the Research project is: Translational research from gown to town: Development of model herbal clinics and medicinal plants regeneration centres in Lagos State. I am the team leader while other members are Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi; Dr. (Mrs) Glory Ajayi; Dr. Abimbola A. Sowemimo; Dr. Joy I. Odimegwu and late Prof Gbemisola A. Agbelusi.

    The amount received from the Lagos State Research and Development Council is Two million, two hundred and fifty six thousand, two hundred and fifty naira (N2, 256,250).

    It is good Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board has several success stories to its credit. They have been able to successfully retrain Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) for effective use within the community hence reducing maternal mortalities. They have also put in place a good referral system to the primary health centres. Also, it has been recorded that the dropout rate for immunisation within the state at TBA facilities has been found to be lower than at government hospitals.

     

    Stated project objectives

    •Transformation of laboratory research work to practical everyday use for Lagos communities for better health for all.

    •Promoting research for solutions to common-but-difficult to solve ailments e.g. obesity, fertility, sickle cell anemia, cancers, malaria, microbial infections etc.

    •Introducing and training Pharmacy students and teachers on real-life solutions proffered by herbal medicines in disease management and eradication to be applied to public health systems.

    •Regeneration of medicinal plants in common use to tackle the ever-present problem of their depletion and encourage use of materials that are locally sourced from our local environment.

    •Introducing to the environment what has been taken from it in an eco-friendly manner.

    •Encouraging cultivation of medicinal plants as a means of supporting the economy and raising the current low standard of living of the medicinal plant farmers.

    •Provide dividends of democracy through the integration of herbal medicines into primary health care.

    The team has done the following to date: Acquisition of machines/equipment/consumables; purchase of an automated tea bag packing machine to measure, fill and seal herbal medicinal teas; tea packaging filters; plastic containers and UV Light air steriliser for the processing laboratory.

    In addition, the project has been able to do a collection of plant materials.

    The collection, drying and grinding and bagging of plant materials is on-going.  The demand is being documented by the research assistant. The team has also visited the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Medicinal Plant Propagation site at Itoikin and the Board already committed a portion of the land to construction of ‘Green house’ for cultivation.

     

    Preliminary impact of grant

    Indication of preliminary impact of the project as executed so far: The automated tea bag packing machine can automatically complete such functions as bag-making, filling, measuring, sealing, thread feeding, labeling, cutting and counting, thus reducing labor expenses and improving production efficiency and sterility. Thus the Faculty can boast of a well-equipped herbal processing laboratory set to provide researchers and students with specialised skills on the formulation of herbal teas. It is the first to be recorded in any University across the nation.  It will assist in the practical training of Pharmacy students and teachers on formulation of real-life solutions proffered by herbal medicines in disease management and eradication to be applied to public health systems.

    The team in collaboration with the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board team is set to support the takeoff at two designated sites, for the model herbal clinic (Onikan, and Ikorodu). The Onikan clinic is in the process of renovation by the research team.

    Clinic dates have been scheduled out for consultation and management of disease states with the Traditional Medicine Board as follows: Mondays- stress; Tuesdays- Hypertension; Wednesdays- Diabetes; Thursdays- General consultation, including Sickle Cell anaemia and then Fridays are for antenatal and infertility.

    Visited the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Medicinal Plant Propagation site at Itoikin and the Board already committed a portion of the land to Construction of green house for cultivation.

     

    Constraint/Limitation

    The team waited for a long time for the supply of the automated tea bagging machine; infrequent power supply affecting the grinding of the plant materials. We are able to proffer solutions to the identified problems with the supply of the machine and team awaiting supplies of other machines for the next phase and the purchase of a power generator.

     

    Evaluation:

    The level of project completion against the stated overall targets/performance indicators is 65 percent completed.

  • Is medicine a ministry?

    Is medicine a ministry?

    Thousands of medical practitioners and students gathered in Okigwe in Imo State for the third National Joint Students and Doctors’ Conference. EDDY UWOGHIREN (200-Level Medicine and Surgery, University of Benin) reports.

    NO fewer than 2,400 people gathered in the serene town of Okigwe in Imo State last weekend for the third annual National Joinst Students and Doctors’ conference at Camp of Faith. It was organised by the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA).

    The participating doctors and medical students, trooped into the town for the event with the theme: Medicine: A ministry.

    Welcoming them, Prof Oluwatosin Odunayo of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said the conference quadrennial was the largest gathering of volunteers on a mission to promote the profession’s values.

    He said: “We seek to make a rediscovery of our calling as a ministry. We also retrace our steps back to the fundamentals of service as Christian doctors and medical students. We have aims to be selfless stewards of the profession that deals with human life.”

    Prof Oluwatosin told the participants that Jesus Christ was the greatest physician, urging them to emulate the selflessness of Jesus and become volunteers that would solve the myriad health challenges facing the nation.

    Speaking on the theme, Prof Sam Ike of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), said the love of material wealth was making medicine to lose its relevance. According to him, the wellbeing of people, irrespective of their social status, was a value doctors used to hold dear.

    “Patient was the most important person in the hospital. As such, health workers gave their best to the ‘important person’ even more than themselves. They never focused on themselves. The result of their commitment was evident in the glory the medical profession attained. Doctors lived within limits of contentment and were more dedicated to their task.

    “There has been a shift of focus and an unusual concentration on the personality and right of the doctor rather than service to humanity and the patient. The reason for sustaining the health sector is now because of the health workers and not the patients.”

    This, according to Prof Ike, has changed the thinking of an average doctor and medical student. He said the shift of focus from patients to doctors explained the lack of satisfaction, low zeal, passion, commitment and poor response to patients’ care.

    A Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Omotayo Ojo, while speaking on Excellence as medical student, said excellence should be the aim of every student.

    He said: “You have just six years to be a medical student. The patients you treat in the hospitals are people’s parents. Treat them with utmost respect. Give it all your best. Your academic pursuit is your ministry at this time.”

    On issues of lack of space for housemanship, residency training, harassment of medical students by doctors, obsolete medical curriculum and slow pace of medical training, Prof Philip Olatunji, a representative of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), faulted universities’ management, politicians and parents for some of these problems.

    MDCN, Prof Olatunji said, usually gives universities a quota to admit yearly but he stressed that many institutions overshot their quotas to earn more revenue. “Even, some parents have the habit of lobbying for admission for their children into medical school,” he said.

    Highlights of the event included a debate between the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) on the topic: Should only doctors play leadership role in hospitals? and quiz, dinner, elections and scientific paper presentation.

    Elijah Wuyep, a student of University of Jos (UNIJOS) was elected CMDA president.

    Nana Walter, a medical student of the University of Ghana in Accra, said: “I am in Nigeria to visit my grandmother when I learnt about the conference from my cousin, who is also a medical student at the University of Calabar (UNICAL). This event is timely and addresses issue facing health sectors in Africa. In Ghana, doctors also harass students. I am taking back the message to my country and inform my colleagues what I have learnt from this conference.”

    Dr Kelvin Ademola of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Lagos, said the conference provided an opportunity for him to communicate with God. According to him, challenges facing health sector are bigger but he was optimistic that the problems would be surmounted. He advised participants to put into practice what they learnt from the conference.

  • ‘Embrace energy medicine’

    ‘Embrace energy medicine’

    All nigerians  have  been urged to embrace energy medicine.This advice was given by an  Alternative medicine practitioner; Chief Iwowarri James in Lagos.

    According to him, energy medicine or therapy is a drugless healing method, which combines the Eastern Oriental medicine practice with Western psychological therapy to eliminate emotional and physical challenges people face.

    He said conventional medicine has not given attention to some health challenges, such as anger, grief and loss of appetite.

    Others are post-traumatic stress disorders and various types of trauma, especially childhood and adulthood traumas.

    This, he said, may be due to accident, attack and past issues. “These are challenges that impede effective functioning of a person’s organs.

    Energy medicine, he said, attempts to eliminate negative energy from human energy system.

    “Experience has shown in our practice the energy medicine has solved deeply rooted psychological issues.

    “So, relationship and unfulfilled expectations have been death with using energy therapy,” he said.

    James said about 90 per cent of physical issues or ailments are rooted in emotional level.

    Conventional medicine, he said, has failed in addressing issues at the physical level through medications and surgeries.

    “However, energy therapy supports the healing of an individual wholly by eliminating the psychology and energy causes of ailments.

    Energy medicine, he said, is a new field of therapy in the country, adding that conventional medicine should find it useful in helping people get better.

    This treatment method, he said, will promote the immune level of every individual, if applied through designated exercise and the use of energy-based product.

    “It is important that immune level is maintained at optimum level, that is, the basis for good and effective performance,” he said.

    James said many people have benefitted from using energy therapy.

    “We have heard series of testimonies in the last eight years since energy medicine began in Nigeria. It has helped people to solve their physical, emotional level and spiritual challenges.

    “Infertile challenges due to physical and emotional trauma were treated. A man had a long time anger problem solved with energy therapy. Four years female infertility addressed and the client became fruitful. These are verifiable stories of effectiveness of energy medicine,” James said.

  • Quality medicine govt’s concern, says don

    THE government has been urged to step up efforts in providing quality medicine to their citizens.

    This, according to a professor of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Nelson Ochekpe, will assist health officials in delivering quality services to patients.

    Ochekpe, who lectures at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Jos, said provisions of quality medicine should be a concern of governments, health officials as well as patients.

    Delivering an inaugural lecture tagged: “Quality of medicine: Everyone a stakeholders?”, Ochekpe advised the Federal Government to come up with rules and regulations that will control the production and distribution of drugs.

    He also called for proper administration of the drugs to patients by health officials as well as good use of the drugs by patients.

    Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, said his government would continue to support the University to excel in its academic performance.

    He said: “Despite the fact that I am not a professional in the field, but by listening to the lecture it means we have qualified lecturers in University of Jos.”

    The university, he said, has produced qualified graduates that are doing well,  producing qualified leaders that would not fail the state and the country.

  • ‘Evidence-based traditional medicine‘ll cure hepatitis’

    ‘Evidence-based traditional medicine‘ll cure hepatitis’

    Many people are dying from hepatitis B and C without knowing what to do.

    But, Chairman, Research Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (RITAM), Otunba Olajuwon Okubena, said there is no cause for alarm as hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, can be treated with traditional medicine.

    According to him, “Many of the deadly diseases which have defied orthodox solutions can be taken care of using traditional medicine.”

    Hepatitis problem, he said, has assumed a big dimension, which is why the World Health Organisation (WHO) has set aside a day every year to commemorate it.

    “The condition can be self-limiting or can progress to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer,” he said.

    Quoting Wikipedia, he said, the World Hepatitis Day (WHD) aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis – a group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.

    The day, he said, is to encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

    Hepatitis, he said, affects many people across the world, causing acute and chronic disease and killing close to 1.4 million people every year.

    He said about 500 million people worldwide are living with either hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

    “If left untreated and unmanaged, hepatitis B or C can lead to advanced liver scarring (cirrhosis) and other complications, including liver cancer or liver failure,” he said.

    Okubena said people should worry about hepatitis than contracting  AIDS, saying  1.5 million people across the world die from either hepatitis B or C faster than they would from HIV and AIDS.

    He said many research works have been done on the disease, especially to determine its epidemiology, transmission and diagnostic investigations, as well as complications and control.

    He said it is clear that there is no known cure for the disease, adding that traditional medicine can come to the rescue of people troubled by hepatitis.

    “Although, still going through verification, a herbal drug known as Hepacare has been found to be helpful,” he said.

    He said formal clinical trials is being considered in collaboration with secondary health facility in Minna, Niger State, adding that the cost of investigation is stumbling block because it is  high and the trials have to be suspended.

    He said the product is already gaining acceptance, adding that a professor of virology at the Lagos State University (LASUTH) did some sort of investigation with a team of scientists.

    He said the scientist’s conclusion on the preparation is a source of encouragement as he described the product as very efficacious, adding that the results have since been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

    The product, he said, was beneficial in the prevention of CCl4-induced hepatocellular injury, possibly by scavenging reactive free radicals, and boosting endogenous antioxidant systems.

    He urged the Federal Government to do more about traditional medicine in line with the directives of the WHO and the African Union (AU).

    Many countries, Okubena said, have implemented the directives but unfortunately, the National Assembly has not even passed the law that would establish the legal framework.