The Lagos State Government has appealed to Traditional medicine practitioners to avoid practices that can endanger the lives of residents.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the appeal during an event commemorating this year’s African Traditional Medicine Day in Alausa, Ikeja, with theme “Two Decades of African Traditional Medicine Day: Progress Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa”
The event, organized by the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, LSTMB, an agency under the Ministry of Health, was attended by indigenous natural medicine practitioners and other stakeholders in the sector and afforded practitioners the opportunity to revalidate their certificate of practice.
While reiterating his administration’s commitment to the safety of residents,
Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, emphasized the need for intense monitoring of alternative medicine practitioners through its regulatory agencies, as it has been observed
that over eighty percent of Lagos residents use Traditional medicine.
“It is important for us to find a way in which traditional and conventional medicine can work together. When you go to India, China and other places you walk into a health facility and you see traditional medicine practitioners on one side and conventional practitioners on the other side, and they tend to collaborate very well because everyone knows their boundaries. It is very important that you do not practice outside of your scope because you are putting the life of your patients at risk’’ he said.
In a goodwill message, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji,
who was represented by the Director, Political Service, Mrs Olabisi Shonibare, pointed out that the 2022 African Traditional Medicine Day Celebration was another opportunity to educate the people on the benefits of traditional medicine adding that traditional medicine has proven to be effective in treating diseases and other health related issues including stress and anxiety.
The guest lecturer, Dr. Babalola Kadiri of the Department of Botany, University of Lagos, pointed out that the major challenge confronting alternative medicine was acceptance and hoarding of information by indigenous medicine practitioners and appealed to the trado-medicine practitioners tocollaborate with the academics, for increased research, publication and evidence-based approach to the practice.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Professor Olusola Adefule – Ositelu, explained that traditional medicine was generational and expressed optimism that when more natural products are discovered and put to use, the practice would be the major source in delivering wellness to mankind, as well as creation of jobs
Earlier, the Registrar, Lagos State Ministry of Health Traditional Medicine Board, Mr. Olawale Kadiku announced that the board was consolidating on recent research findings to ensure traditional medicine could help achieve the Universal health coverage drive of the state government.
Highlights of the event was the launching of the code of conduct for practitioners, as well as, Inspection of Exhibition Stands by the special guest and guest of honour.
The 12-page document developed by the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board clearly outlines appropriate conduct expected of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners; traditional medicine ingredients and herbal product sellers (Elewe-Omo); and botanical and herbal product dispenser (Alagbo), as well as offences and penalties for defaulters.
