The President National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), Dr. Shaba Maikudi on Monday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to assent to the recently passed Traditional Complementary & Alternative Medicine Council Bill .
The bill would ensure an effective regulation of Traditional Medicine practice in Nigeria and integrate it particularly the traditional herbal medicine widely used in rural areas by majority of the populace into the orthodox practice for effective and efficient healthcare delivery system as recommended by the World Health Organization WHO.
Dr. Maikudi made the call in Abuja at the swearing in ceremony of newly elected executive of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners where he was inaugurated as President of (NANTMP) for second term of three years.
According to Dr. Maikudi, the bill is currently before the National Assembly adding that, assenting to it will ensure the protection and regulation of the Traditional Medicine practice in Nigeria.
Maikudi acknowledged the use of Traditional Medicine right from our forefathers and stressed the need to “integrate the practice into formal healthcare delivery system as recommended by the World Health Organization WHO.”
He noted that NANTMP has been able to achieve global recognitions “with our interactive and fruitful engagements with various foreign embassies like the People’s Republic of China and the India.”
“We are again working on exchange programme with some foreign embassies like China, India and the republic of Switzerland.”
Dr. Maikudi assured that achievements made by association in the past would be improve upon by “implementing lofty visions that will promote our image, corporate healthcare of Nigerians and the welfare of our members.”
He called on the Traditional Medicine Practitioners to liaise with the federal ministry of health to promote government policy on data capturing of practitioners in accordance with the World Health Organization WHO.
Also speaking, Commercial Attache of High Commission of India in Nigeria Mr. Praney Sinha promised improved collaboration with the Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Nigeria for the promotion of health in the country.
He said, “already I am in talks with the the ministry of health for an MOU and also, for the establishment of Traditional Medicine Research Institute here.”
The Minister of Science and technology Uche Nnaji represented by Mrs Aina Folashade said the ministry is committed to working with NANTMP in the promotion of research and innovation for the economic benefits of Traditional Medicine in Nigeria.
Also, the former secretary General of the Association Professor Mohammed Njawa encouraged the new leadership of the Association to make a priority in ensuring that the body in moving the Association forward.
The new leadership of NANTMP has Dr. Shaba Maikudi as President, Dr. Maitairu Igene Deputy, Dr. Kamaldeen Adeagbo National Secretary with other positions spread across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria.