Nigerian Minister advocates Traditional Medicine development to revamp health sector

Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora has advocated the development of Traditional Medicine as key to affordable drugs in the country.

Dr. Adeleke stated this during his familiarization tour of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency(NNMDA) in Lagos.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press and PR, Mr. Atuora Obed, the Minister noted that the traditional medicine has in ages addressed issues of health and the establishment of medical plant market where original plants and seeds can be made available for professionals to process and produce drugs will effectively support the quest for provision of adequate drugs in health care centres across the country.

The Minister charged the Agency to protect the intellectual property of the scientists so as to a avoid being pirated by others.

Dr Adeleke commended the Agency on its achievement of construction of office blocks, establishment of various laboratories, experimental pesticide plant farms in the six geopolitical zones of the country despite paucity of funds.

He charged the Agency to not only depend on government funding but to also collaborate with other organizations and philanthropists as well commercialize its products for further internally generated Revenue.

The Minister thereby enjoined the management and staff to continue working as a team in order to fulfil the desired goal and progress of the nation.

The Director-General of NNMDA, Dr. Samuel Oghene Etatuvie noted that, “The Agency has made remarkable strides in the areas of research, promotion of cultivation of medicinal aromatic and raw materials amongst others.

“NNMDA has produced standard, affordable and safe medicines used in treating hypertension, glaucoma, live stock tick disease and many others through discoveries and have since sent to NAFDAC for proper processing necessary for final production, packaging and consumption”

The DG however, lamented the poor funding that has retarded the progress of processing strategic equipment, proper training and retraining of officers, expansion of research and Innovation (R&I) thus appealed for improvement in funding the Agency.