Enhancing Standard Of Traditional Medicines In Nigeria

Written By Elijah Zakariya, FRCN Abuja Operations

The World Health Organization in 1976 described traditional medicine as “”the sum total of all knowledge and practice whether explicable or not, used in diagnosis, elimination of physical, mental or social imbalance and relying exclusively on practical experience and observation down from generation to generation whether verbally or in writing”‘.

In other words, content of any traditional medicine at a given time is necessarily a product of the historic experience of the people within a social and environmental context.

This healing processes manifest values and procedures both indigenous and foreign, which have been assimilated locally over time.

To a large extent, it is quite obvious that traditional medicine is a form of health care people or a particular group of persons use to prevent illness and promote health, based on past experiences.

In Nigeria, traditional medicine remains the commonest source of health care after self treatment.

Its continued existence within the society can be attributed to the values and perception of the citizens.

It involves totality of approaches to illness and health in which one’s body, mind, soul are viewed in the context of the relationship between social connection, the physical and spiritual universe.

While the western medicine approaches health and illness from the analytical and scientific perspective, medical anthropologists have observed that African patients often needs to know why? rather than how? he/she became ill.

To this end, traditional medicine practitioners have more than medical preparations to offer the patient since they often have vast knowledge and insight into aspects of the patient’s belief, behaviour and mental attitude, which may be applied to explain the course of an illness and responses to treatment.

Hence there is need for concerted efforts towards ensuring full Ultilization and sustenance of benefits of traditional medicine in the country.

Though there have been so many efforts to promote traditional medicine in the past but not much have been achieved in the area of acceptability and standardization.

These efforts include the publication of Late Joseph Odumosu in 1904, as the first Nigerian to publish a nature therapeutic book for sale to all.

Also, the first formal training institute for practitioners of traditional medicine was established in the 1930s to educate those desiring to to be qualified in native medicine.

Though it did not survive the test of time,other training centers have been established in the country.

Currently, there is an upsurge in demand for traditional medicine.

This is not necessarily because of economic downturn, but the response to cultural re- orientation pointing towards the efficacy of traditional medicines.

Challenges of Traditional medicine include insufficient funding by stakeholders and lack of clearly articulated legal framework to hold practitioners accountable in law for malpractices, manslaughter or fraud.

Several attempts have been made by successive administrations towards standardization, quality control, and policy formulation on traditional medicine as various committees have been constituted since 1966 but most of the recommendations have not been fully implemented.

Government efforts in trying to promote research with the establishment of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency and Nigeria Institute Of Pharmaceutical Research And Development is highly commendable.

But there is need to provide adequate funding for the research centers.

The Lagos State government had set the pace by broadening the scope of health care to include traditional medicine which promotes health care and prevent illness.

It legitimized the Orthodox health care by setting up the Lagos State traditional medicine board.

Such gesture should be replicated by government at all levels to ensuring that the full benefits of traditional medicines are abound for the citizens and beyond.