Nigeria has joined the world in marking this year’s World Acupuncture Awareness Day, a practice which has been recognized as an intangible human cultural treasure by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos State, Most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins, on Thursday, 16 November, hosted the year 2023 World Acupuncture Awareness Day with an event, which had the theme “The Role of Religion in the Common Good of the Medical and Health Profession; most especially the Clinical Acupuncturists”.
In his welcome address at the Holy Cross Cathedral Hall, Lagos, venue of the event, Dr. Edison Christian, Chairman, Nigerian Association of Clinical Acupuncturists (NACA), reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to practising acupuncture professionally by following the due process.
“I urge Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the Lagos State governor to take acupuncture seriously, if Nigerians must have the best in health care management.
“Nigeria’s president should include clinical acupuncture in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“I also appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to accommodate clinical acupuncture into Ilera Eko Health Insurance Policy to access clinical acupuncture, with a view to generating revenue in billions of dollars, like the United States, China, and India.
“Acupuncture is peculiar to the Chinese people, but I can boldly tell you that we are equally doing very well here in Nigeria.
“We have been able to heal so many people through acupuncture, and the world is watching because Nigeria remains the first country in Africa to achieve this feat,” he stated.
The acupuncturist lamented the low awareness of acupuncture in the country, saying that more needs to be done by relevant and concerned government agencies in this regard.
Dr. Christian submitted that the profession will attract huge investments to Nigeria, as well as help create employment opportunities for unemployed citizens.
The former Dean, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and immediate past Chairperson, Lagos State Government Traditional Medicine Board Ministry of Health (LSTMB), Prof. Adebukunola Adefule-Ositelu, delivered the topic of the day.
“The giants strides that have been recorded from acupuncture have made the practice to be globally accepted.
“Every country is endowed with natural plants and this is a plus for the world, if we all collaborate.
“Traditional medicine has come a long way, and that is where religion comes in.
“Acupuncture is broad, as it comprises the physical, spiritual and divine aspect of it.
“We are aware that here in Africa, eighty per cent of our people still prefer the traditional method of health care management. Similarly, acupuncture is equally natural, safe, and less toxic,” Prof. Adefule-Ositelu noted.
Meanwhile the Lagos State Ministry of Health is also part of the initiative, taking a cue from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mrs. Adenike Onanuga, representative of the Registrar, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, said the Lagos State Ministry of Health is very much interested in standardizing the industry.
“This will help boost public trust and promote patronage,” she said, reiterating that Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board will continue to educate, sensitize, advocate and mentor the public and all concerned parties aright.
The immediate past President, Lagos State Tennis Club, Prince Lufadeju Gbenga, said acupuncture is employed in sports for pain management and injury recovery as it helps to improve sleep, while noting that the religious aspect of it can promote compassion and divinity.
Other participants, who had been healed through acupuncture, also mounted the stage to share their experiences in one voice, saying “Acupuncture is divine, and the way to go!”
The immediate past Chairman of Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (ACMPN), Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Patrick Ijewere, also graced the event.
