Health Minister Announces Plans to Create Department of Traditional Medicine
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The minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has concluded plans and announced his intentions to set up a department of traditional medicine at the Federal Ministry of Health, stating that with this initiative, the government will come closer to the people.
He said with the creation of such a department, certified drugs with local content would be produced in large quantities and would not be corrupted as compared to imported drugs which are sometimes expired before getting into the country. Also, he said it will generate revenue.
The minister who made the disclosure yesterday at the send-forth ceremony of the out gone director-general of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Prof K.S Gamaniel, in which 18 staff out of 147 nominees were given awards and recommendations, also disclosed that in pursuit of making traditional medicine a success in Nigeria, he will source for N100 million for the institute. In addition, he will give an. Additional N10 million for research into neems products.
He said “I am setting up a department of traditional medicine and. We are almost there because I am interested in it. It will bring us closer to our people. It will also encourage in the production of drugs that are not corrupted because they are from us. This will also generate revenue.
“To make this dream come true, I will source for N100 million and there will be a unit to be set for traditional herbal products. I will also give the sum of N10 million for research into neem products. Everything about the plant is commercialised for use and it is all over Nigeria especially in the north. It is a multi-billion naira plant.”
For one of the institute’s products called Niprimal, which is a cure for malaria, the minister advised that it should be tested for pregnant women it has been tested for chloroquine and others successfully.
In the same vein, while encouraging the institute to network with Nigerian universities, especially the faculties of technology and pharmacies for the development of a robust pipeline, he encouraged that a functional primary health care centre be established within the institute in order to serve as a pilot site for Nigerians to enjoy the local herbal content.
