Research, Collaboration Essential to African Traditional Medicine – Pharmacologist
A Pharmacologist at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Moses Akanmu, has urged collaboration among the academia, traditional medicine practitioners, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Federal Ministry of Health to synergise on comprehensive research and development of African Traditional Medicine (ATM).
He said the move would significantly boost the health status of Nigerians, provide outlets for research efforts, create wealth for medicinal plant researchers, and generate job opportunities across the country.
Akanmu gave the advice during the scientific forum on herbal medicine organised by the Centre for Herbal Medicine and Drug Discovery at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State.
He said the approach aligns with the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), emphasised the necessity for Nigeria’s indigenous herbal products to be industrially manufactured and packaged to meet international standards.
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Akanmu, while acknowledging the role herbal medicine plays in the lives of Nigerians, said that if properly harnessed, it would place Nigeria on the global map as a reliable source of therapeutic herbal products.
On his part, Vice Chancellor of UNIMED, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, said herbs had for centuries been an integral part of human civilisation, offering remedies and insights into the intricacies of nature’s healing potential.
He said: “One of the ways UNIMED intends to achieve “better health for a greater nation” is to harness the goodness of nature – herbal medicine. This forum, which was established by the university and powered by the Centre for Herbal Medicine and Drug Discovery to commemorate the World African Traditional Medicine Day, stands as a testament of the university’s unwavering commitment to the pursuit of scientific excellence and promotion of holistic well-being.
“I trust that as we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, our understanding of botanical wonders will continue to deepen, opening new doors to innovation and discovery.”
