From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero has called for the integration of herbal medicine into Nigeria’s mainstream health system to boost the nation’s economy.
Ajaero said there is a need to explore alternative medicine, citing its potential to generate trillions of Naira for the country through exports.
The NLC President spoke during the presentation of a certificate of registration to the National Association of Herbal Medicine Employers in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Labour leader also called for the establishment of herbal hospitals to further legitimize traditional medicine within the country’s healthcare system.
He stressed the efficacy of herbal medicine, rooted in Nigerian culture, asserting its relevance in tackling indigenous health challenges.
Ajaero expressed concern over the reliance on imported pharmaceuticals amidst foreign exchange challenges, proposing the advancement of local herbal remedies as a sustainable alternative.
He further urged for ethical practices and proper research within the sector to uphold standards and ensure efficacy in treatment.
“We understand the importance of herbal medicine but it is still a vague area that we need to explore especially for a country like Nigeria, where the economy is not booming.
“Ordinarily, we should explore this herbal medicine or alternative medicine as they will call it, to the extent that it will be a revenue earner for the country, that we will be exporting our drugs to other countries, and that people can be coming into the country for treatment with our own drugs, he stated.
Ajaero said further: “That this issue of herbal medicine and alternative medicine is being regulated was part of the problems we inherited from the whites. When they came in here, our religion, our way of life, our way of dressing, everything went down. But, from independence, Nigerians have started going back to their roots. And I do not see why we should not go back to our roots.
“If herbal medicine or alternative medicine is explored in Nigeria, Nigeria will be making trillions through exports of these drugs, and that is an area that I would tell the Nigerian government, that since they are thinking of ways of diversifying the economy, they consider exploring it adequately.
“The potency of herbal medicine is not in doubt. There are elements that you can not trace their genealogy to English culture. It is rooted in Nigerian culture. And it is clear that we know the solution. Because those illnesses are indigenous to this place.”
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