On Thursday, Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu implored members of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) to maintain good work ethics and professionalism. He also warned that anyone found practising any form of healthcare delivery without a licence would be sanctioned and prosecuted.
Sanwo-Olu spoke during the celebration of Y2022 African Traditional Medicine Day with the theme: “Two Decades of African Traditional Medicine: Progress Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa.” held in Alausa, Ikeja.
The Governor, who was represented at the ceremony by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that the prevalence of quacks, traditional medicine vendors, and concoction mixers constituted a grave health risk to the society.
According to him, traditional medicine must be properly restructured, controlled, and accredited by the LSTMB in order to eradicate pseudoscience from the health profession.
The Governor praised the efforts and tremendous contributions of practitioners of traditional medicine to the health sector via the provision of alternative treatments for certain terminal illnesses.
“To maintain the track record and enjoy government’s support and recognition, ensure you do not practice outside your scope, If you do that, you have run foul of the Law”, he said.
Sanwo-Olu lauded the Board for conducting training, clinical trials, and toxicology to determine the appropriate dose and measurements of medication. He disclosed that the LSTMB currently has approximately 10,000 registered Traditional Medicine practitioners who are operating within the Board’s guidelines and regulations.
Secretary of the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, also spoke at the occasion, praising the work of the tenacious members of the Traditional Medicine Board for their tenacity in harnessing the growth of traditional medicine for the health and economic development of the people.
Her words: “Traditional Medicine is the only healthcare service that is readily available, accessible and affordable; this underscores the significant contribution of traditional medicine as a major provider”.
Mrs. Jaji, who was represented by the Director of Political Affairs and Special Duties, Mrs. Olabisi Shonibare, urged practitioners to improve their practise by standardising their operations by keeping proper records and data collection, stating that all hands must be on deck to expose fake or quack practitioners.
Prof. Adebukunola Adefule-Ositelu, chairman of the LSTMB, emphasised the need of partnership between conventional and traditional medicine in her presentation, stating that it would go a long way toward meeting the demand for good medical care delivery.
Prof. Adefule-Ositelu called, therefore, for collaboration and mutual understanding between practitioners of conventional and traditional medicine for efficacy and efficiency.
Earlier, Mr. Olorunkemi Kadiku, the Registrar of the LSTMB, offered assurances that the Board will continue to put in place an enduring policy and regulatory framework, as required by current law, to enhance the traditional medicine system.
The Registrar said that they will build upon the newly formed research group by enabling customised models depending on the State’s priorities.
“We will tap into the recent call by the State Ministry of Health for expression of interest for grants for health research and continuously revitalise our mandatory training programmes for traditional medicine practitioners to enhance their capacities”, Kadiku said.
The highlight of the event was the announcement and presentation of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board’s Practitioners’ Code of Conduct.