Importance Of Traditional Medicines Revealed, As Edo state TMB Holds Stakeholders' Meeting

Importance Of Traditional Medicines Revealed, As Edo state TMB Holds Stakeholders' Meeting

By: Oriaifoh Godwins

The relevance of Traditional Medicines to our health, Communities and the government, was yesterday, Tuesday, 8th April 2025, revealed by the stakeholders present at the meeting, that was held at the Festival Hall, of Edo state government House, in Osadebey Avenue, Benin city, Edo state.

During the meeting, the different speakers that spoke to enlighten the Practitioners, as well as the members of the public present, included, the Chairman of the Board, High Chief Dr. Abudu Ugbesia, JP, the Secretary to the Board, Dr. Mrs. Joy Opara, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services Ministry of Health, Dr. Osa-Afe Tivere and the guest speaker, Barrister Monday Eboigbe.

Chief Abudu Ugbesia, who underscored the importance of traditional medicines, warned that, we must not lose focus of the fact that, Traditional Medicines were in existence before the advent of orthodox medicines, as such, the use of traditional medicines to restore the sick back to good health, should not be undermined. He advised Practitioners to always share their knowledge, so as to ensure continuity, saying Practitioners will be tested on what they claim they can do, by presenting the relevant health Challenged patients to them for treatment.

Mrs. Joy Opara, the Secretary to the Board, in her extemporized speech, who said, the purpose of the meeting, is to rub minds and know what the agenda of the present administration with respect to Traditional Medicine is, and to hear from Practitioners, added that, the integration of Traditional Medicines with orthodox medical practices, at this time of the development of Tradomedical practice is germaine, as Pharmacists now understands the use and importance of herbs in health deliveries.

On her part, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services Ministry of Health, Dr. Osa-Afe Tivere said, she is a strong believer in Tradomedical practices, adding that, tradomedical Practitioners should not be secretive, but open to one another in sharing ideas and experiences.

A one time Chairman, Edo state Traditional Medicines Board, High Chief Sylvanus Eruaga, aka Double, who also at a time, represented Etsako East constituency in Edo state House of Assembly, praised the Chairman of the board for his efforts so far. He advised that those at the grassroot must be properly educated to ensure that quarks and fraudulent people that have hitherto, been pretending to be tradomedical practitioners, and using that guise to defraud the people, thus creating a bad image of Tradomedical Practitioners, should be identified, and dealt with accordingly.

The guest speaker, who spoke on the topic he titled: "The way to move Traditional Medicines Forward In Edo state", made a clear distinction between a Witch Doctor and native doctor. While advising Practitioners to limit their activities to their areas of specialisation, he said; " we must differentiate between spirituality and Traditional Medicines.

Barrister Eboigbe advised that legislations should be put in place to recognise Practitioners, and that Practitioners should subject their medicines to proper testings to ensure its effectiness and acceptance.