OGUN MULLS TO COMPETE IN WORLD TRADITIONAL MEDICINE MARKET

Ogun State government has declared its intention to compete in the world Traditional Medicine market, towards this end, Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board (OGAMB) has begun to train herbalists across the state.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary, OGAMB, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, while declaring open a day workshop, tagged, Intensive Training for Herbal Medicine Manufacturers on Safety and Efficacy of Herbal Products, at Pharmacy House, Leme Abeokuta.

Dr. Lawal, who said OGAMB was established to standardise and regularise the practice of alternate medicine, noted that one of the major challenges in the practice was standardisation, hinting that the Board would partner with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to design a strategy for promoting indigenous medicine, thereby generating revenue for the state.

In their lectures, Head, Department of Pharmachosist, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Alfred Jaiyesinmi and Senior Lecturer, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Olutayo Adeleye, pointed out that hygiene, dosage, referral and registration with government were germane to the practice, to prove that the sub-sector was fully professional, just as in other part of the world, urging government to invest in herbal plantations, as medicinal plants were going into extinction.

Remarking, a representative from Commonwealth Traditional Healers Association, Dr. Olu Adeola and President, Ogun State Traditional Healers Association, Chief Ademola Akanbi, commended the present administration for its efforts to develop alternate medicine, requesting for government’s intervention in NAFDAC’s conditions for herbal production.

Some participants at the workshop, the Oba Isegun Obada-Oko, Chief Sunday Ololade and National President, Ewedayepo Traditional Healers Association, Dr. Adesina Odugbemi, appreciated government and OGAMB for organising the programme which had improved their knowledge and level of orientation, in line with international practices, calling for more of such training.

 

Dolapo Jinad,

Press Officer, OGAMB