The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has described traditional medicine as the source of care for the majority of Africans. At the 13th African Traditional Medicine Day in Ikeja, Lagos recently, NAFDAC’s Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the event was aimed at regulating the manufacture of traditional medicine in the African region. Orhii, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, NAFDAC, Mrs. Titilope Owolabi, noted that traditional medicine remained the main source of health care for about 80 per cent of the population in many developing countries because of its accessibility, affordability and acceptability. He siad, “Some years back, the World Health Organisation referred to traditional health systems as holistic, while emphasising the view that ill health is brought about by an imbalance of man in his total ecological system and not by the causative agent. “This has helped the inclusion of proven traditional remedies in national drug policies and regulatory approvals by developing countries,” Orhii said.

A professor of Pharmacognosy, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, commended NAFDAC for according recognition to traditional medicines. He noted that traditional medicine is now of better quality. Also, president of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Mr. Omon Oleabhiele, expressed appreciations for the efforts of NAFDAC, saying, that in bringing traditional medicine practitioners together, it will make for national acceptability of traditional medicines.

Source:Punch Online