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Lara Adejoro
The Federal Government has said that about 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population relies on traditional medicines for their basic health needs.
The Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the 20th African Traditional Medicine Day with the theme ‘Two decades of African Traditional Medicine Day towards achieving universal health coverage in Africa.’
Ekumankama said the progress recorded in traditional medicines in the country is critical to achieving universal health coverage.
He said, “the progress so far is critical to achieving UHC considering that about 80 per cent of the populations, especially those residing in the rural communities patronise traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine services as their main source of health care. The availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of TCAM make it popular amongst communities.
“Achieving UHC requires multiple approaches which include; the primary health care approach and life course approach, and both are critical. A primary health care approach focuses on organising and strengthening the health system so that people can access services for their health and well-being based on their needs and preferences, at the earliest, and in their everyday environments.
“The Federal Ministry of Health is following the World Health Organisation’s recommendation to utilise Orthodox; Traditional; Complementary and Alternative Medicine, towards ensuring the realisation of UCH.
“Significantly, fundamental roles and interventions of TCAM at primary healthcare level have continued to strengthen health care delivery in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas by increasing access, to quality and safe herbal medicines and healthcare services to the populace. “It is pertinent to note that there is a growing concern for more discoveries and research into medicinal plants for the development of new herbal remedies for treatment and management of various diseases.”
The Head, TCAM department at the Federal Ministry of Health, Pharm. Zainab Shariff said traditional medicines strengthen access to healthcare services.
She, however, lamented the poor recognition and acceptability of TM, especially by orthodox professionals.
She called for the “speedy passage of TCAM Council bill, integration of TM into healthcare delivery system, establishment and implementation of curriculum for the training of medical students and commencement of BSc degree in herbal medicine in most African universities.
“Establishment of TCAM hospitals in collaboration with China and India, strengthening cooperation and coordination amongst TCAM practitioners.”
On his part, the WHO representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo said there is a need to reflect on the progress toward African traditional medicine being afforded the prominence it deserves in national health systems.
“Traditional medicine has been the trusted, acceptable, affordable, and accessible source of health care for African populations for centuries. Still today, 80 per cent of the continent’s population relies on traditional medicine for their basic health needs.
“Since African Traditional Medicine Day was initiated in 2003, the continent has seen the implementation of WHO Regional Strategies on Promoting and Enhancing the Role of Traditional Medicine in Health Systems, 2001-2010 and 2013–2023, as well as plans of action for the First (2001-2010) and Second Decades of African Traditional Medicine (2011-2020).”
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