The Federal Government has been called upon to integrate herbal medicine into its health coverage framework to broaden healthcare options and ensure inclusive delivery for all Nigerians.
Delivering the 585th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan at Trenchard Hall, Professor Rasheed Awodoyin, a Professor of Plant Ecology, made the appeal to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), stressing the importance of offering Nigerians alternative medical choices.
“Modernity and antiquity should exist side by side; none should be jettisoned. People should have choices in healthcare delivery,” he asserted.
Speaking on the topic “After Plants, It is Plant,” Professor Awodoyin emphasized that Earth is a plant-based planet, and humans must take urgent steps to curb deforestation, land degradation, and erosion.
He reiterated that herbal medicine is the foundation of modern medicine, calling it “a mother that never experiences menopause.”
He highlighted the health and industrial benefits of various plants often dismissed as weeds, noting that some have been proven effective in the treatment of ailments and in food production.
One example he cited was ‘Abere’, a bitter herbal remedy used to manage diabetes and lower cholesterol levels, which has now been processed into capsule form by the department to make it more user-friendly.
“Some weeds are known to be beneficial for industrial use, for managing ailments, and also serve as herbs for delicious food,” he noted.
To promote environmental sustainability, Professor Awodoyin advocated for integrated farming practices, including the use of deep-rooting crops and trees, and a reduction in the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
He warned that excessive fertilizer use can lead to environmental pollution, overgrowth of microorganisms, and health risks.
“Plants are indispensable for maintaining a healthy atmosphere, soil, food system, and by extension, human and livestock health,” he concluded.
In her remarks, Professor Marufat Balogun, Head of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, described the lecture as a product of over 30 years of dedicated research addressing critical issues such as climate change, environmental pollution, human health, and food security.
She echoed the need for greater environmental responsibility, urging Nigerians to embrace the use of plants to safeguard the environment and improve overall wellbeing.
Reporting by Sherifdeen Nashirdeen