Complementary, Alternative Medicine Regulation Bill scales second reading in Delta Assembly

The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Regulation Bill aimed at regulating the activities of traditional medicine practitioners in the state has passed its second reading in the Delta House of Assembly.

This is sequel to the presentation of the principles of the bill, by the lead sponsor, Mr Fegoson Onwo, (PDP-Isoko South I) during plenary on Wednesday in Asaba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill also sought to Repeal the law of 2008, changing its name from Traditional Medicine Board to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Board.

Leading the debate, Onwo highlighted the objectives of the bill when passed, to include checking quackery in the traditional medicine sector as well as regulating the activities of practitioners among others.

He also said that renaming the board would also attract growth, adding that the board had suffered a lot of set back due to its name.

Supporting the passage of the bill, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu (PDP-Oshimili South), noted that the bill when passed would not only check quarkery, but would help to reduce loss of lives, especially among women giving birth.

Anyafulu added that the bill when passed would also ensure that traditional practitioners refer cases to government-owned hospitals when they do not have the capacity to handle them.

Similarly, Mrs Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, who commended the proposed law, noted that the bill was apt following the recent influx of traditional practitioners into the state.

She said that the bill when passed would help to regulate their activities.

Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the Bill said the proposed law when passed would help to restructure the board, regulate their practices, ensure that qualified practitioners are registered, and spell out fines for offenders.

The Bill which enjoyed unanimous support from the lawmakers, was later referred to the House Committee on Special Bills by the Speaker, Mr Dennis Guwor after a voice vote.

In another development, the Assembly passed a vote of implicit confidence on Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori.

This was a sequel to a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Emeka Nwaobi.

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The Speaker, Dennis Guwor, congratulating the governor on his giant development strides in the state, noted that the people of Delta have never had it so good.

According to him, remarkable developments across every sector of the economy is visible to all.

He added that the governor’s various awards were clear testaments of his remarkable achievements which he said were second to none in the country.

He said the people of Delta were indeed proud of his achievements and urged him to do more