• Unveils herbal medicines for sickle cell, diabetes, others
• As NNMDA plans 11 new innovative products, targets 2 million jobs
The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to invest in natural medicine to provide substitutes for foreign drugs amid the rising cost of products in the country.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, disclosed this when he unveiled four herbal products developed by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) for the management of diabetes, sickle cell disease, treatment of upper respiratory tract infections and reducing fast aging.
Nnaji stated that the Federal Government intends to create an innovation fund for research and development to support research institutions, stressing that research remains crucial for development. He said: “I have verified some of the products they have developed; especially those that treat arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension.
“These drugs are foreign substitutes. The drugs can treat diabetes, aging, sickle cell, and upper respiratory tract infection that will replace Augmentin. What we keep saying is that there must be a research and development fund. If we have such funds, the high cost of drugs would be addressed,” he said.
Earlier, Director General, NNMDA, Prof Martins Emeje, revealed that the agency would launch 11 innovative products, which will be made from 100 per cent locally sourced materials by October, 2024, which will lead to job creation for 2,090,000 Nigerians.
He noted that the agency now has five products registered with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and listed products on malaria, erectile dysfunction, vaginal wash, diabetes, and herbal medicinal soap for approval.
Emeje said that the NNMDA, which boasts of being the only public institution with five NAFDAC list-registered products, is now accredited to train pharmacist interns in specialised areas of indigenous medicine.
The NNMDA boss said that the agency is currently pursuing accreditation with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council and Medical and Laboratory Council of Nigeria. “We are determined to educate our western trained colleagues in this specialised area of indigenous medicine. The agency has full accreditation from the Federal Ministry of Education through the National Board for Technical Education as a tertiary institution. We are the only innovative enterprise in Nigeria offering a national diploma certificate in natural medicine.”
