By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria says it is keying into development of Traditional Medicine to make drugs affordable in the country.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Mamora who stated this recently in Lagos during his familiarization tour of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), emphasized that the essence of development of traditional medicine is to make available alternative, safe and affordable drugs to Nigerians for the various health challenges in the country.
A statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Atuora Obed, quoted the Minister as noting that the traditional medicine though unrefined, addressed the various health problems of our forefathers, adding that 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 the health care centres in the country.
Dr. Adeleke, called on the Agency to be more committed towards achieving health for all through traditional and alternative medicines and as well, protect the intellectual property of the scientists so as to a avoid piracy.
He 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 the paucity of funds, adding that the federal government will ensure improvement in the funding of Agency.
The Minister, however, charged the Agency not to depend solely on government funding but to rather collaborate with other organizations and philanthropists as well as commercialize its products for further internally generated Revenue which is capable of sustaining its funding and self reliance.
Dr. Mamora opined that without unity of purpose prevailing in the organisation, the Agency could not have achieved the giant strides and enjoined the management and staff to continue working as a team in order to fulfil the desired goal and the progress of the nation.
Earlier in his speech, the Director-General of the (NNMDA), Dr. Samuel Oghene Etatuvie, had said that the Agency has made remarkable strides in the areas of research, promotion of cultivation of medicinal aromatic and raw materials amongst others.
He noted that NNMDA has produced standard, affordable and safe medicines used in treating hypertension, glaucoma and livestock tick disease among others, adding that the discoveries have been sent to NAFDAC for proper processing necessary for final production, packaging and consumption.
Dr. Etatuvie lamented that poor funding has retarded the progress of processing strategic equipment, proper training and retraining of officers, expansion of research and Innovation (R&I) and appealed to the minister to intervene in improving the funding of the Agency.
