The Federal Government has certified some federal universities to award degree certificates in traditional medicine practice.
The National President, National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners, NANTMP, His Royal Highness, Omon Oleabhiele, made this disclosure in Benin City, capital of Edo State, at a retreat organized by NANTMP, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and other national and global health organizations.
According to him, the University of Ibadan, UI, and Obafemi Awolowo, OAU, Ile Ife, have already been approved by the Federal Government to award such degrees, adding that “the body that is to draw the curriculum for the syllabus has already been inaugurated in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Health.”
He disclosed that arrangements are in top gear to certify more universities across the six geo-political zones for the award of degrees in traditional medicine.He frowned at a situation whereby “Nigerian market is flooded today with medicines from America, China, India, and other Asian countries,” whereas Nigeria’s traditioal medicines which he said were better, are not available in the Nigerian market.
Omon Oleabhiele who called for the immediate establishment of traditional medicine hospitals to operate side by side with orthodox medical hospitals, where patients should have the right of choice for their treatment method, noted that the Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, was the first to call for such establishment.
He attributed the massive improvement in the traditional medicine sector in Nigeria to the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan, just as he expressed hope that the bill on traditional medicine would be passed before he leaves office.