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Tag: traditional medicine

  • ‘Fed Govt can incorporate traditional medicine into health sector’

    ‘Fed Govt can incorporate traditional medicine into health sector’

    Can Traditional Medicine and Complimentary Alternative medicine be integrated into the health sector? For experts, who held a two-day workshop in Lagos, the answer is yes. Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha writes.

    Why is it difficult for the government to fuse Traditional Medicine/Complimentary-Alternative Medicine (TCAM) into the main health care system?

    Many factors are responsible for this, says the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Director-General (DG), Prof Babatunde Salako.

    He listed quality of herbs, quality assurance/quality control in processing and manufacturing/preparation of herbal medicines as  some of the problems.

    Others, he said, were herbal mechanisms of action, bioavailability, herbs  chemical constituents, herb and drug interactions, efficacy measurements, and quality of life and safety issues.

    Salako made this known at the international conference on indigenous traditional knowledge organised by Paxherbals Clinic and Research Laboratories and its subsidiary Ofure (Pax) Integral Research and Development Initiative (OFIRDI), which held at Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos.

    The theme of the event was: ‘The contribution of indigenous knowledge in stimulating integral development in Nigeria and Africa’.

    Other organisations, which partnered PaxHerbals to host the conference, were: FIIRO, Oshodi, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, National (NNMDA) Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion and Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

    Salako, who spoke on: ‘Western allopathic medicine and traditional African medicine: any hope for a synergy?’,  said other factors which affects integration of the TCAM into modern medical practices are poor quality, adulterated or counterfeit products, unqualified practitioners, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to use effective conventional treatments, exposure to misleading or unreliable information and direct adverse events, side effects or unwanted treatment interactions.

    Despite these challenges, Salako said no hope was lost because the World Health Organisation (WHO) has a strategic master plan for the TCAM.

    WHO support for TCAM (WHO TM Strategy 2014-2023) integrates TM into national health care systems, where feasible, by developing and implementing national TM policies and programmes.

    “Safety, efficacy and quality — promote the safety, efficacy and quality of TM by expanding the knowledge base, and providing guidance on regulatory and quality assurance standards. Access — increase the availability and affordability of TM, with an emphasis on access for poor populations. And Rational use — promote therapeutically sound use of appropriate TM by practitioners and consumers,” he explained.

    Salako said TCAM should be incorporated as an integral part of a country’s health care with each recognised as a legitimate form of sytstem.

    He said TCAM could be practised with modern medicine. ‘’Traditional and modern practices could be integrated as two branches of medical science, with the incorporation of elements of both to form a new branch.

    ‘’And what are needed are to make traditional medicine and evidence-based medicine (EBM) an integral part of a country’s formal health care system  e.g China, Japan, Korea, India and Ghana.

    “Awareness campaign and advocacy among physicians and herbal medicine practitioners on the role of scientific, cultural, educational, and legal issues in improving integration. We need to make Western medical doctors receptive to the ideas of TCAM. Africa Biomedical and traditional practitioners need to unite and be open to the idea of working with one another as peers.

    ‘’TCAM practitioners must be open to sharing their methods and knowledge by allowing western doctors to examine and analyse them using their own systems of fact finding. There has to be acceptable intellectual property guidelines/Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) from the beginning of collaboration.Incorporate alternative medicine practices into the training curriculum of all health care workers in all medical schools.”

    The DG said the WHO has defined three types of health system to describe the degree to which TCAM is recognised as part of the national health: Integrative systems, parallel system and tolerant system.

    “Integration of biomedical and traditional medicines through medical education and practice as it obtains in China. Parallel System involves separation of biomedical and traditional medicine in the national health system:  Nigeria, Guinea and Ghana, Asian countries including India and South Korea, and tolerant systems where biomedical health facilities are encouraged to complement delivery of care by some traditional medicines which have been endorsed by the country’s legislation: South Africa and Ghana,” he added.

    He said NIMR has a centre to assist realise some of these.

    “NIMR Centre for Research in Traditional, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine is set up to research into preclinical pharmacological assessments and action mechanisms. To research into clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety assessments of herbal medicine. Ensure herbal medicine quality and standardisation. Training and improving the skills of traditional herbal medicine practitioners. Research in drug development in herbal medicine. And ensure intellectual property development among collaborating institutions and practitioners. This is because the NIMR was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the Research Institute Establishment Act of 1977 to promote National health and development.”

    Salako said NIMR has signed an MoU with the Paxherbal Clinics  and the Nigeria Council of Physicians of Natural Medicine (NCPNM) to boost natural health care.

    “The purpose of the MoU with Paxherbals is to establish collaborations/cooperation between NIMR and Paxherbal for the search and development of  indigenous natural medicinal products with potential health and economic benefits. The goal of the MoU is to use the strengths and expertise of NIMR to prove and develop the potential of natural medicinal products produced by  Paxherbal and /or other stake-holders into scientifically sound and globally credible medicines/patents.

    “While the purpose of the MoU with NCPNM is to establish collaborations/cooperation between NIMR and NCPNM for the search and development of  indigenous natural medicinal products with potential health and economic benefits. The goal is to use the strengths and expertise of NIMR to prove and develop the potential of  natural medicinal products produced by members of the NCPNM and /or other stake-holders into scientifically sound and globally credible medicines/patents.”

    Salako reiterated that TCAM has come to stay as it has gained global attention and is being used in many countries as an option of treatment of various diseases.

    “There is a need to monitor and report adverse events, including potential drug–herb interactions via clinical trials and phytochemical analysis. Integration of TCAM and EBM is practised in some countries. Therefore, when safety and efficacy of many of the herbs are further established in accordance with conventional scientific principles, the integration of herbal medicine into evidence-based clinical practice will likely improve beyond current status.”

    The convener and Director Paxherbals and Pax Centre for Integral Research and Development, Revd Father Anselm Adodo described the conference as a success, saying the aims were achieved.

    “The aim of this conference is to bring together researchers, scientists, research scholars, entrepreneurs, health care practitioners and health technologists to discuss, exchange and share their experiences and research results in all aspects of indigenous knowledge in health care and health policy, traditional medicine research and practice, community development, local innovations in agriculture, biodiversity, solar technology and business enterprise.

    ‘’There is an urgent need to critically examine approaches to education, health care, technologies, enterprise, agriculture and development in Nigeria and propose new methodologies, new approaches and new action plans.

    ‘’The common thread weaving these diverse topics together is the need to stimulate integral development in Nigeria and in Africa. As such, this conference focused on applying trans-disciplinary approach to issues of development in Nigeria, transcending dichotomies that have tended to impede rather than stimulate sustainable development in Nigeria.”

    Notable participants at the conference were Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Director of Bioresources Development Group, Prof Maurice M. Iwu, who made a presentation on: ‘African Traditional Medicine Research and Development’;  Director general (DG), FIIRO, Prof. Gloria Elemo; guest speaker and book reviewer, Prof.  Alexander Schieffer of University of St. Galen, Geneva Switzerland who spoke on-Communitalism as an African alternative to capitalism and the role of transformative education and research to actualise it.

    Others were Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, Mr. M. O. Lawal, Prof Omon Oleabhiele, and Dr. Femi Jegede.

    On the second day, experts discussed Traditional African gynaecology: Herbs for managing infertility, impotence and ante-natal care herbs, with a special session on licensed traditional birth attendants in Lagos.

    It was chaired by Oleabhiele. Dr. Atoyebi, a gynaecologist with the Agege General Hospital, Lagos and Prof. MacDonald Idu.

    The speakers were Mrs. Owolabi Titilope and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) team Dr. O. Igbo, Dr. Pogoson, director, IAS, Prof. Omoh T. Ojior, Prof. Sophie Oluwole and Dr. S. Osunwole discussed how to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. The theme was: The role of indigenous knowledge in promoting sustainable development in education, technology, health care and culture in Africa.

  • Fed Govt urged to maximise natural plants, boost traditional medicine

    The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Ruzu Natural Health Products and Services, Dr Robert Uzu, has urged the Federal Government to appreciate the country’s natural endowment in plants, saying it is needed to boost traditional medicine in the country.

    He said a boost in traditional medicine would enable the country  have an edge, generate revenue, and set a pace for local production and for export, which could replace oil.

    Uzu, a herbal medicine practitioner, spoke during  a courtesy visit by the National Association of Nigerian Students, to his office in Igando, Lagos. The event was also part of activities to mark his 40th birthday.

    Uzu said the firm, which focuses on handling life threatening issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer and infertility cases, aims to solve the challenges which orthodox medicine cannot solve.

    He said: “All travel routes in the country are filled with plants which are rich in diverse nutrients. All these plants are not utilised; they are laying waste on the roads.”

    Government, he said, can utilise these wasted lands by having botanical gardens in states. “This will enable medicinal plants, which we have everywhere in the country to be useful.

    “Nigeria needs to bring out a programme that will facilitate the interest of Nigerians to use natural plants to treat sicknesses. Government needs to make a body that can monitor the usage of medicinal plants and give the herbal medicine practitioners an enabling environment to operate so that there will be no competition between the herbal doctors and the medical doctors.

    “Government should integrate herbal medicine in the hospitals such that patients can decide to either go for herbal or orthodox medicine. Herbal medicine and orthodox medicine should not be competitors; rather, we should be able to complement each other.”

    He called for standardisation and consistency; knowledge combined with talent on traditional medicine in the country..

    “It is time to redirect our focus and come back to nature in Nigeria. We must go back to the natural life that enabled our fore fathers to live up to 100 years with ease. We must bring an end to life expectancy of below 60 years in Nigeria.” he said.

  • Septuagenarian seeks recognition for traditional medicine

    Septuagenarian seeks recognition for traditional medicine

    Dr Debo Thompson is a cheerful  septuagenarian, with a penchant for making the world smile  through her healing prowess. On December 16,last year, she marked her 75 years birthday and celebrated her over 40 years of practice. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA was at her Ajuwon, outskirts of Lagos residence where she spoke on several issues. 

    Dr Debo Thompson is a multi-talented natural health practitioner. She is a healer, iridologist,  herbalist, vintner, spices manu-facturer, and a faith-based practitioner rooted in Grail message.

    Sitting down with Dr Thompson at her apartment located inside Longing Estate, Femi Kuti Bus stop, Ajuwon revealed a woman who has much passion for the skill she practices, but not much energy nowadays to ply her trade now that she is 75 years old.  With a sharp gusto, she burst out in unruffled voice, “my yearning now is to pass my knowledge into the younger generation. I am willing to train as many people in the art of healing that I have excelled in. This is because I am getting old and there is no umbrella training school that can serve as the pedestal. The institutions that I know of are into production of products and not training per se.”

    Unaided, she moved round her apartment showing The Nation some of the herbal preparations, explaining their uses, their compositions, mode of preparation and how to preserve or store. Her eagle eyes did not spare the paper writings detailing her discoveries, contacts, observations, suggestions and usage .

    Dr Thompson said all these are results of her over 40 years of active practice. At 75, she reinstated for the umpteenth time that her utmost desire is to pass on her knowledge in traditional and alternative medicine garnered over the years.

    She was born on December 16, 1941. She said  that her love to bring healing to people gingered her interest in traditional medicine and later, into complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

    Dr Thompson known for her Lofties Bitters,  one of the earliest entries in the bitters drink world, said there are many challenges facing the development of traditional medicine in Nigeria.

    “One of the challenges facing us traditional medicine practitioners and our development is disunity. Despite the good intentions of the Federal Government in establishing The National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), there is lack of genuine oneness in the association. One does not readily feel the impact of this association as a practitioner.

    “In the same vein, I can’t point out the major projects the association embarked on that left practitioners better than when they did not join. That body should serve as the umbrella interest group that should be campaigning for the passage of traditional medicine bill. Too much power tussle is playing out. None seem to remember that a house divided against itself cannot stand,” said Dr Thompson philosophically.

    With shone eyes she recalled how she gave out books, shared her time and knowledge with the Nigerian Agency for Traditional Medicine, at Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island at its infancy. “Today, I look back and I am happy that I did that. That is how we can be a benefit to our profession.  If I have not done that, today I may not be this happy and fulfilled. Though no monetary gain came from my effort but that agency is floating now and has become a well established government agency and doing a lot of documentation and research in our indigenous herbal medicine, what other joy can be more dignifying. And if you walk into their ‘Hall of Fame’, there are insignias and banners that will point all these out to generations yet unborn,” she beamed.

    To Dr Thompson, another challenge facing the practice is lack of funding due to non proper recognition of traditional medicine by the government.

    “You see, in places like China, Russia and Ghana when a person takes ill or is sick, he or she is asked how to be treated, either by orthodox or non orthodox way because the laws there recognise CAM and traditional medicine. But here in Nigeria, it is a one way hugely favouring orthodox medicine.

    “There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift in the health sector. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Let the government stop paying lip service to traditional medicine. There is a huge FOREX inherent in it, if only the government will do the needful as stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” said Dr Thompson.

    She said part of the ill bedeviling traditional medicine is lack of a national training institute, “what we have are plethora of private schools by the effort of individuals or groups being run by personal monies. Nigeria can turn the fortune of many around by looking the way of our natural flora and fauna. Small scale enterprises can spring up. And the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) can also be looked into for downward review of costs of registration among others.

    “I  have passion to pass on my knowledge in winery, spices mixture and manufacturing, iridology and herbalism. I will take up any serious individual or group of people. You can see all around me, my inventions and discoveries for the healing and pleasure of mankind, as I am ageing,” said Dr Thompson.

    At 75,she is  popularly called Dr Debo, the Septuagenarian, with the Sagittarian spirit in her, is frank, courageous, and optimistic that traditional medicine will take its rightful place in the health sector, one day.

    Dr Thompson can be described as an achiever, so the best one can do to keep her thoughts is perhaps to share in her quest, appreciate her wisdom and respect her opinions.

    Indeed, time spent with her portrays Dr Thompson, the Sagittarius woman as the typically natural scholar, who loves both to learn and teach, making conversations highly stimulating and rewarding.

  • Traditional medicine has reduced cost of health services, says expert

    Traditional medicine has reduced cost of health services, says expert

    •Group’s leaders sworn in

    The cost of health services has been reduced, with the approval granted traditional medicine practitioners almost 10 years ago, an expert, Dr Idowu Ogunkoya has said.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) in Lagos, Ogunkoya said traditional medicine’s importance could not be over-emphasised.

    Ogunkoya, who chaired the group’s electoral committee, described it as a non-partisan body.

    He said: “It is not owned by any ethnic group or group of individuals. Members of the executive  will hold office for a tenure of four years only and relinquish their office to another democratically elected executive. A Board of Trustees is appointed to hold office for one single term of five years and a new board is appointed as NANTMP constitution requires.”

    Ogunkoya said:“The importance of Traditional Medicine in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. It is a holistic health providing sector,  creating jobs, supporting agriculture and its derivatives in its own capacity; traditional medicine reduces cost of health provision and related services in a country that recognises and legalises it, such as Nigeria.

    Mr Andrew Akarachi Anyanwu emerged  national president with 42 votes, against Usman Ibrahim, Sunday Gbakanlado and Dada Nakowa scored zero vote, Ibrahim Jawa eight votes, Muhammed Salih Damansani 16 votes, and Baba Ejiga, 38 votes. Shaba Mekudi Sani is the deputy president; vice-president 1 (South-west) Samuel O. Banjo, vice president 2, (South east) Cyril Okwudili Umezele, vice-president 3 (South-south) Igene Mutairu, vice president 4 (North-west) Halihu Ashiru Maikada, vice president 5 (North-central) Muhammed Baba Beji.

    Prof Dayo Oyebanjo Oyekole as secretary general, assistant secretary Adeagbo Kamorudeen Kunle, treasurer, Franca Nkem Mordi,  assistant secretary,  Hakeem Atanda and Ikechukwu John,  public relations officer (PRO).

    The election was held last December 15 at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja. Three delegates were chosen from each state of the federation including Federal capital territory (FCT).  108 delegates were accredited. Candidates were allowed to campaign and defend their manifesto for two minutes. The voting started at 1pm. Unopposed candidates took the floor to tell the delegates about their qualities and how they will move the association forward. They said  being unopposed candidate showed that they would deliver.

    John Okeke polled 30 votes. Regina Ikenwilo, 34 votes and Cyril Okwudili, 38 votes to emerged Vice President Southeast. Vice President, North West- Saad Isa Ahmed, 35 votes, Ashiru Makaida 70 votes; Secretary General- Elder Jacobs, 36 votes, Dayo Oyekole 61 votes. National Treasurer- John Bubba, 47 votes,  Franca Nkem Mordi 57 votes. Deputy President- David Akan 12 votes, Lateef Adeyeye 16 votes, Shaba Mekudi Sani 75.

    Ogunkoya said supplementary election would be conducted for Vice President, Northeast and Auditor- General.

  • WHO traditional medicine strategy: 2014-2023

    The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 was developed and launched in response to the World Health Assembly resolution on traditional medicine (WHA62.13). The strategy aims to support Member States in developing proactive policies and implementing action plans that will strengthen the role traditional medicine plays in keeping populations healthy.

    Addressing the challenges, responding to the needs identified by Member States and building on the work done under the WHO traditional medicine strategy: 2002–2005, the updated strategy for the period 2014–2023 devotes more attention than its predecessor to prioritizing health services and systems, including traditional and complementary medicine products, practices and practitioners.

    Regulation of T and CM products, practices and practitioners

    As a result of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002 to 2005, national and regional policies and regulations have been established to promote the safe use of T and CM products, practices and practitioners (Box 4) in many Member States. It remains a key responsibility of Member States to protect the health of their populations by ensuring the safety of T and CM practice and managing its described risks more effectively (Box 5). Differences between countries are apparent in the type of supervisory structures put in place by governments in order to develop policies and regulate T and CM products, practices and practitioners while being mindful of the need for consumer choice and protection. Since Global review of T and CM 1 Communication with WHO from the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2013. 31 WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy

    T and CM is diversely perceived and assessed in different countries, it is hardly surprising, given their different national priorities, legislation and resources, that Member States will choose to protect the health of their populations in very different ways. Box 4: T and CM products, practices and practitioners T and CM products include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products that contain parts of plants, other plant materials or combinations thereof as active ingredients. In some countries herbal medicines may contain, by tradition, natural organic or inorganic active ingredients that are not of plant origin (e.g. animal and mineral materials). (Ref.: modified questionnaire explanation in the second WHO Global Survey).

    T and CM practices include medication therapy and procedure-based health care therapies such as herbal medicines, naturopathy, acupuncture and manual therapies such as chiropractic, osteopathy as well as other related techniques including qigong, tai chi, yoga, thermal medicine, and other physical, mental, spiritual and mind-body therapies. (Ref.: modified definition of procedure-based therapies in WHO General Guidelines for Methodologies on Research and Evaluation of Traditional Medicine). T and CM practitioners can be TM practitioners, CM practitioners, conventional medicine professionals and health care workers such as doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and physical therapists who provide TM/ CAM services to their patients (Ref.: modified questionnaire explanation in the second WHO Global Survey).

    WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy: T and CM is diversely perceived and assessed in different countries, it is hardly surprising, given their different national priorities, legislation and resources, that Member States will choose to protect the health of their populations in very different ways.

    Box 4: T and CM products, practices and practitioners T and CM products include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products that contain parts of plants, other plant materials or combinations thereof as active ingredients. In some countries herbal medicines may contain, by tradition, natural organic or inorganic active ingredients that are not of plant origin (e.g. animal and mineral materials). (Ref.: modified questionnaire explanation in the second WHO Global Survey). T and CM practices include medication therapy and procedure-based health care therapies  such as herbal medicines, naturopathy,  acupuncture and manual therapies such as chiropractic, osteopathy as well as other related techniques including qigong, tai chi, yoga, thermal medicine, and other physical, mental, spiritual and mind-body therapies. (Ref.: modified definition of procedure-based therapies in WHO General Guidelines for Methodologies on Research and Evaluation of Traditional Medicine). T and CM practitioners can be TM practitioners, CM practitioners, conventional medicine professionals and health care workers such as doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and physical therapists who provide TM/ CAM services to their patients (Ref.: modified questionnaire explanation in the second WHO Global Survey).

     

    •Source: www.who.int

  • Traditional medicine vital in health care, says board chief

    Lagos State government is growing traditional medicine to support its health care delivery system.

    Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi made this known at a workshop for tradition medicine practitioners and health workers in the private sector.

    The workshop was held in conjunction with a United Kingdom (UK) based organisation, Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (Part 2) at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Ikeja.

    Dr Omoseyindemi said DFID is contributing to effective and efficient use of the nation’s resources to achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.

    He said: “The capacity building would help develop traditional and alternative medicine practice so that they would be able to support the healthcare delivery system in the state, as the Ministry of Health would need accurate data in planning some of its policies and improving on health indices.

    “The workshop will also ensure there is improvement in the quality of healthcare.”

    Five Local Government Areas (LGAs) would serve as the launch pad for health workers in the private sector. They are Amuwo-Odofin, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ibeju Lekki and Ikorodu LGAs.

    Omoseyindemi said the baseline assessment of orthodox medicine practitioners, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), patent medicine vendors and community pharmacists have been conducted, adding, “the training needs of practitioners were identified based on the maternal death review report from secondary and tertiary hospitals.”

    The LSTMB, he said, was supported to develop its electronic database for entry of community level data.

    He said before the capacity training, the board and the Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET) have reviewed the curriculum for TBAs and community birth attendants’ training programme.

    The Chairman also said the board had trained some practitioners on six priority diseases in West Africa as directed by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). The diseases are hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

    The objective is to train practitioners on the use of herbs and preparation methods following the guidelines in the region’s Herbal Pharmacopoeia.

    The Board, he said, also collaborated with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the United States, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to train 1,115 TBAs on childhood diseases, such as diarhoea management.

    “The objective was to empower them to become diarhoea champions in their various communities by educating mothers under their care on the proper use of zinc plus oral rehydration salt (ORS) for the effective management of the condition, which accounts for 11 per cent of childhood deaths. The programme was held in 20 LGAs across Lagos State,” Omoseyindemi said.

    He added that his Board would continue to conduct further tranings for practitioners

    “LSTMB and the state Ministry of Health organised training on Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) of childhood illnesses for TBAs, Pharmaceutical Medicine Vendors (PMVs) and community pharmacists.

    “The TBAs have been linked to chlorhexidine gel for cord care and as such training on antenatal, maternal and newborn care were done. They were all sensitised on the importance of referral,” Omoseyindemi added.

  • Ambode assures traditional medicine practitioners of support

    Ambode assures traditional medicine practitioners of support

    The weather was clement and the atmosphere, convivial. There was hope in the air to lift traditional medicine practice.

    The venue was the premises of the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners; Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. It was a meeting of the governoship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinwunmi Ambode with all stakeholders in traditional medicine (TM) practice. The convener was the Lagos State Traditional Board Medicine (LSTBD).

    The shout of ‘Ambo’ rented the air as the candidate stood to address the participants who were over half a million.

    Akinwunmi assured the traditional medicine practitioners consisting of community health officers, traditional birth attendants, the herbal medicine and ingredients sellers association (Elewe Omo), traditional medicine practitioners, bone setters and others that they would get government’s support, if elected.”

    Akinwunmi said: “I promise to continue to elevate and strengthen you, the various practitioners in obtaining world class training, assist you to obtain the world class standard in your various specialties and I will include you in illness prevention and health promotion activities of the administration if elected.

    “I recognise the role of the practitioners as I grew up in rural community of Epe. I acknowledged that most of the Elewe Omo are women and my government will continue with the women empowerment programme in this profession. I equally recognised the need to set up training institutions for traditional medicine development. And I promised to continue with capacity building for the community health officers and the community birth attendants in order to strengthen the primary health care system.”

    Elated by his speech, the traditional medicine stakeholders endorsed him, promising to mobilise more people to vote for him and other APC candidates.  Leaders of Community Health Officers in all 57 local governments and local council development areas also promised to vote for Ambode.

    The representatives of the stakeholders mounted the podium one after the other to pledge their support. The President of Herbal Medicine and Ingredients Sellers Association, (Elewe Omo), Alhaja Sinifat Olomowewe; the TBAs leader, Chief (Mrs) Temilade Fayemi and Leader of Community/Faith Birth Attendants, Mrs Ajishafe took turns to their express their satisfaction and support for Ambode. So, also members of the National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NTMP), including Chief Felix O. Esho; Chief Moyesan and Chief Akande gave him green light.

    The LSTMB chairman Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi implored the stakeholders to mobilise and vote for APC candidates to strengthen and take them to the next level of development in their career. “It is only APC government that has done something to elevate our status and given us adequate recognition,” he said.

    He continued: “At the turn of the century, folk medicine was viewed as a practice used by poverty stricken communities and quacks. However the rejection of synthetic or biomedical products has become a growing trend in Western society and allowed for a rise in the demand for natural medicines. When less developed countries are taken into account it is estimated that over 50 percent of the world’s population relies on folk medicine practices. The prevalence of folk medicine in certain areas of the world will vary based on cultural norms. Much of today’s modern medicine though is previously based on plants that had been long used in traditional medicine.”

    Dr Omoseyindemi added: “The passage of a resolution, last year, on the integration of traditional medicine in global healthcare delivery systems at the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, is a laudable development. It will, hopefully, help to bridge the gap between orthodox medical practice and complementary/traditional medicine for the benefit of mankind. This recognition of the value of traditional and complementary/alternative medicine is a big leap for these branches of medicine. The approval of their integration with orthodox medicine in global health systems deserves commendation. It is a confirmation that traditional medicine, which varies among countries and regions, has useful benefits that should be harnessed to improve medical care worldwide. We heartily welcome this development and urge a quick implementation of the resolution. We need a political platform to realise these dreams, so vote for APC candidates.”

  • ‘Traditional medicine can stop anaemia, others’

    ‘Traditional medicine can stop anaemia, others’

    A traditional medicine practitioner has recommended okan, known botanically as Cylicodiscus gabunensis or African greenheart and sorghum bicolor for the management of anaemia and other diseases, such as cancer and HIV.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Health Forever Product Limited, Olajuwon Okubena, said conventional medicine across the world has not found an effective solution to anemia.

    He said this is despite the fact that the problem of blood appears to be central to many aspects of healthcare.

    Okubena said blood is very critical to the treatment of cancer and HIV.

    “The conventional system of chemotherapy for cancer and anti-retroviral drugs for HIV destroys the blood cells to the extent that blood transfusion becomes inevitable for the survival of the patient”.

    He said most popular drugs used in the United States by doctors to boost hematocrit (blood volume) of patients have a lot of side effects, such as seizure, hypertension. This, he said, was despite the fact that they could only achieve less than five per cent increase in blood level over a period of more than four weeks.

    Besides, it is also expensive and the method of administration through intravenous system makes it unaffordable for the ordinary people.

    He said African Traditional Medicine (ATM) is rich in plants that have been in use in medicine for anemia without problems.

    “Plants such as cylicodiscus gabunensis and Sorghum bicolor are notable examples.

    He said blood transfusion, which is the process of transferring blood or blood-based products from one person into the circulatory system of another, may not be necessary when anaemic people are treated with preparations from natural plants.

    He said blood transfusion has its benefits, such as life-saving because of massive blood loss due to trauma, or as replacement for blood lost during surgery.

    It may also be used to treat a severe anaemia or thrombocytopenia caused by a blood disease, he added.

    “People suffering from hemophilia or sickle-cell disease may require frequent blood transfusions.

    “Early transfusions used whole blood, but modern medical practice uses only components of the blood,” he said.

    Okubena, however, said objections to blood transfusions sometimes arise from personal, medical, or religious reasons.

    Some people object to blood transfusion primarily on religious grounds that blood is sacred and should not be shared.

    Moreover, there are possible complications associated with transfusion.

    “Apart from emergencies arising from trauma and blood loss during surgery, there is no need for the senseless transfusions that have become rampant in our healthcare delivery system,” he said.

    Why? He said the dangers in blood transfusion are many.

    Okubena said there is a transfusion transmitted infection (TTI), which can be a virus, parasite, or other potential pathogen that can be transmitted in donated blood through a transfusion to a recipient.

    “The term is usually limited to known pathogens, but sometimes includes agents such as Simian foamy virus which are not known to cause disease,” he said.

    He said rigorous screening is usually carried out on known diseases for blood kept in blood banks in the developed countries, adding: “The USA authorities said there is no 100 per cent guarantee of safety for such screened blood. The developing countries are very much disadvantaged for lack of necessary equipment to do thorough screening and the numbers of pathogens being screened are by far limited.

    “If great care is not taken in cross-matching the recipient’s immune system will attack the donor blood.

    Moreover, a number of infectious diseases (such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, among others) can be passed from the donor to recipient.

    He said sorghum bicolor leaves have been in use in in the management of anaemia for several decades in many parts of South Western Nigeria.

    Also, there are several publications by authors in Nigeria and other parts of the world resulting from research work done in the laboratories.

    He said a herbal medicine called Jobelyn, which is made from Sorghum bicolor leaf sheaths, provided evidence of its efficacy for anaemia.

    The herbal drug is recommended in most of the government hospitals in Lagos State for the treatment of anaemia resulting from dialysis.

    “Most dialysis patients receive blood transfusion after the exercise to replace blood lost in the process but many of the patients using Jobelyn are able to avoid transfusion after dialysis.

    A Briton whose child was to be transfused with blood before a kidney operation as a result of anaemia said the herbal drug proved to be a life saving product.

  • Fashola, others seek laws to regulate traditional medicine

    Fashola, others seek laws to regulate traditional medicine

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for a more effectice regulation of traditional medicine.

    He sought its full integration into the health care system for a better harnessing of their benefits.

    Speaking at the African regional forum of the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in the United States , the governor said those referred as herbalists could be made to play more economic and health roles in Africa.

    Speaking on the topic: Off to the witch doctor! Regulating African traditional and indigenenous medicine, he said traditional medical practice cannot be wished away.

    According to him, they provide medical care for a large section of the people.

    “It exists and serves a segment of our society and some people believe in it because it works for them.

    “Integration is the key. There is no medical production that does not have its foundation in nature. Traditional medicine is based on beliefs and the acceptability of the practice is something that you really cannot legislate,” he said.

    He said Lagos has a Traditional Medicine Regulatory Board which not only registers the practitioners of traditional medicine, but also regulate what they do.

    He, however, cautioned that government cannot over-regulate the practice.

    If it does, the best results from their practice may not be achieves because some of their practices cannot be verified with empirical facts.

    Fashola called for more pragmatic regulation and full integration into the orthodox practice where possible.

    He said Lagos has trained hundreds of traditional medicine practitioners on how to improve their services.

    Fashola condemned the attitude of some practitioners who claime to solve all manner of ailments.

    The keynote speaker, Dr. Emmanuel Fashakin classified his experience with African traditional medicine into the good, the bad and the ugly.

    He noted that traditional medicine is orally passed on from generation to generation, possibly because of the lack of education among its early practitioners.

    He said traditional medicine is divided into two, the physical and metaphysical.

    The physical traditional African medicine is divided into herbal medicine, hydrotherapy and radiant healing, he said.

    He named some of the plants in the practice as Fennel, Serpentine, Digitalis, etc.

    Fashakin called for serious regulation of the practice, which he said should include registration of its practitioners, enabling laws to guide the practice, education of the practitioners and users, and possibly integration with the orthodox medicine.

    Dr. Joy Sackey noted that there is room for traditional medicine practitioners in Africa.

    She said Ghana has about 45, 000 of them, which was why the government enacted the Traditional Medicine Practice Act in the year 2000.

    Accordint to her, the Act led to the establishment of a Council to regulate traditional medicine and its practitioners.

    She called for balancing, integration and need to introduce basic standards, as well as promote collaboration between modern and traditional medicine practitioners.

    Dr. Richard Marlink condemned traditional medicine practice because according to him, it lacks standardised forms, its claims cannot be verified by empirical means and so, if it cannot be proved, then it does not exist.

     

     

  • Traditional medicine clinics coming

    The Managing Director, Health Forever Products Limited, Otunba Olajuwon Okubena, answers the first question; a superintendent Pharmacist, Mrs Temitayo Alegbejo of Benjamin Michaels Pharmaceuticals Limited, handles the second.

    Now that there is serious awakening to the recognition of Traditional/Herbal Medicine in Nigeria judging by the activities the celebration of African Traditional Medicine Day on August 31, it is important to clarify some issues that could hinder the fast tracking of the wide spread acceptance, promotion and export of herbal products in Nigeria.

    Practices of traditional medicine vary greatly from country to country, and from region to region, as they are influenced by factors such as culture, history, personal attitudes and philosophy. In many cases, their theory and application are quite different from those of conventional medicine. Long historical use of many practices of traditional medicine, including experience passed on from generation to generation, has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine.

    However, scientific research is needed to provide additional evidence of its safety and efficacy. In conducting research and evaluating traditional medicine, knowledge and experience obtained through the long history of established practices should be respected. Despite its existence and continued use over many centuries, and its popularity and extensive use during the last decade, traditional medicine has not been officially recognised in most countries.

    Consequently, education, training and research in this area have not been accorded due attention and support. The quantity and quality of the safety and efficacy data on traditional medicine are far from sufficient to meet the criteria needed to support its use worldwide. The reasons for the lack of research data are due not only to health care policies, but also to a lack of adequate or accepted research methodology for evaluating traditional medicine. It should also be noted that there are published and unpublished data on research in traditional medicine in various countries, but further research in safety and efficacy should be promoted, and the quality of the research should be improved.

    Traditional medication involves the use of herbal medicines, animal parts and minerals. As herbal medicines are the most widely used of the three, and as the other types of materials involve other complex factors, it is attractive for health authorities to attempt to concentrate on the herbal aspect. However, there is a need to define the focus that could accelerate the identification, development, promotion and export of products that are of Nigerian origin.

    The developed countries have conducted extensive research into almost all the important herbs in the world including those from Nigeria. They have even identified the bioactive compounds in many of them. Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical companies in these developed countries have formulated herbal products, many of which have prophylactic properties. A good number of such products are already in circulation in Nigeria through direct and multi-level marketing system. Many orthodox drugs have their origin from plants, but they follow the normal process of drug discovery which normally takes a minimum of 10 to 15 years and billions of dollars investment in the development, clinical trials and marketing. Nigeria can certainly wait this long to make herbal products available for local use and export.

    Nigeria should not try to re-invent the wheel by trying to formulate herbal medicinal products through research activities in our institutions. This would be an Israelite’s type of unending journey which may not even terminate in the holy land. For any research institute to attempt to discover a herbal medicine from the scratch, it would have to end in the orthodox fashion of drug discovery method which will end in double blind, randomised and multi-centre human clinical trials that would require billions of Naira, taking several years to accomplish. A case in view is the development of Niprisan by the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID). In spite of all the time taken and huge investment in this project, it had not achieved a commercial success that is commensurate with the huge investment and human resources associated with it.

    Development of herbal medicine in Nigeria should take its root from traditional herbal medicines that have got a proven history of efficacy, their use having been well established and widely acknowledged to be safe and effective, and may be accepted by national authorities.

    One of the ways to discover these products is by encouraging traditional medicine practitioners to establish themselves into peer-review groups for the purpose of identifying herbal medicines that emanate from folk traditional medicine. An example of such a group is Research Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (RITAM).

    Goals and vision of RITAM

    To propel, harness, evaluate and certify diagnostic, curative and preventive values of safe Nigerian Traditional medicine products thereby developing a resource compendium of medicines for the Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in all the 774 Local Government Areas as well as for the use of Traditional and Alternative Medicine practitioners in Nigeria and overseas.

    To find lasting solutions to World Health Organisation (WHO) priority list of diseases i.e. malaria, hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and HIV/AIDS through traditional medicine. To have a comprehensive data of Nigerian Traditional medicine products that should be recommended for preclinical and human trials at NIPRID and Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and other research centres, particularly the Nigerian Teaching hospitals in the process of their becoming Herbal Drugs. To provide candidate herbal drugs that would be included in the National Drug Formulary. To ensure that at least 150 herbal products would have been certified as being evidence based in the next two years.

    It is also to collaborate with the ministries of Health, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Education, Environment and other relevant government agencies to propagate Traditional and Alternative Medicine (TM) in Nigeria; position Traditional medicine products from Nigeria in the international market thereby making TM products the highest income generating industry for the country and encourage mass production of endorsed Nigerian Traditional medicine products.

    RITAM is working with the Lagos State Board of TraditionalMedicine (LSBTM) and model clinics for Traditional Medicine practice are being set up in over the state and, particularly, in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), which would be manned by practitioners who would soon be given orientation on the evidence-based products discovered at the RITAM’s model clinic.

    The establishment of the model clinics would provide a platform for Nigerians to have the opportunity to solve many of intractable health problems such as cancer; diabetes; stroke; hypertension; HIV/AIDS; prostate enlargement Enlargement; cancer; fibroid; Arthritis; sickle cell anaemia’ Parkinsons disease etc using Traditional medicines.

    Before the end of the year, the two pilot model clinics would start operation at Joseph Lambo Model Clinic, inside, the premises of LSBTM, Onikan, Lagos and RITAM Model Clinic in Ikeja. The Federal Ministry of Health should encourage and support the setting up of Peer-review groups in many parts of the country and encourage also the setting up of State Boards of Traditional Medicine where they are not yet available to emulate the Lagos State government.