Mamora canvasses investment in traditional medicine
Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora PHOTO: Twitter
In order to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Minister of Science and Technology, Olorunnibe Mamora has stressed the need to invest in traditional medicine.
Speaking at the commissioning of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA)’s research laboratory complex in Lagos, yesterday, he noted that natural medicine is “our heritage. We must protect and develop it to what it should be. We cannot achieve UHC without the integration of traditional medicines. Up to 65 per cent of the population live in the rural areas and because indigenous medicine had been with us for ages and centuries, they believe in it.”
Specifically, he listed component of the UHC as health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
Speaking further, he said aside from being readily available, data and experience have shown that traditional medicine is safer with fewer side effects.
“We have also ensured that their intellectual properties of the manufacturers is protected,” he disclosed.
He added diagnosis is key. “You can’t treat what you don’t know. During COVID-19, the major problem we had was diagnosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical.”
Mamora advised: “No one will develop this county than Nigerians. We must work on what we have. It has to be deliberate. The structure has to be maintained and sustained.”
He further shared five principles that made the Ministry of Science and Technology successful, which are: communication, cooperation, cordiality, coordination and collaboration.
According to him, “this is across board, on vertical and horizontal level. We achieve more when we work together.”
In his speech, Director General NNMDA, Samuel Etatuvie, disclosed that the laboratory complex intends to provide research for herbal product manufacturers and developers of agro-allied for local and international market and also improve the agency’s internally generated revenue.
He added that in the future, there is need to improve the laboratory’s current scope and its compliance.
