John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Abuja Archdiocese, has encouraged Nigerians to look to countries like China and India for inspiration on the development of natural medicine.
He believes that natural medicine is still a good option for many people who cannot afford conventional medicine.
Onaiyekan emphasized that Nigeria has abundant natural medicine resources and called on the Federal Government to recognize and promote it through the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency in order to make affordable healthcare accessible to Nigerians.
PUNCH Healthwise reported on Monday that the Federal Government unveiled four herbal products developed by the NNMDA for the management of diabetes and sickle cell disease.
The products are also intended for treating upper respiratory tract infections and reducing rapid aging.
During an official visit to NNMDA in Lagos, the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, revealed that the herbal products would serve as alternatives to foreign drugs due to the increasing cost of medication in the country.
The World Health Organization states that approximately 40 percent of pharmaceutical products today are based on natural ingredients, and significant drugs are derived from traditional medicine.
The global health organization confirmed that traditional medicine and knowledge have contributed to major medical breakthroughs, with herbal medicine having a long history of being developed into effective treatments for health conditions.
Onaiyekan, speaking at an event organized by the NNMDA in Abuja to mark the 2024 Natural Medicine Day, suggested that natural medicines could be preferable for certain medical conditions that seem resistant to modern treatments.
The cardinal stressed the importance of the NNMDA's focus on developing Nigerian natural medicine, emphasizing the need to recognize and promote the nation's natural medicine resources.
He pointed out that prior to the introduction of European medicine, traditional natural medicine was relied upon for maintaining good health, and that although modern medicine was embraced for its superior effectiveness and advantages, the value of traditional remedies was overlooked.
He noted that modern medicine was adopted enthusiastically due to its perceived advantages over traditional remedies, eventually becoming the international standard for healthcare training and practices.
However, the archbishop lamented that the important contributions of traditional natural medicine to modern medicine were not adequately acknowledged during the adoption of modern healthcare practices.
He expressed regret that important aspects of traditional natural medicine were overshadowed in the process of embracing modern medicine.
He highlighted the fact that much of modern medicine was built on knowledge derived from natural medical products and practices, without appropriate recognition.
A argument can be made about breaking the rules of Intellectual Property Rights because our native herbs, roots, and animal parts were taken and rebranded in large pharmaceutical companies as bottled drinks and pills.
Additionally, for a long time, traditional medicine was a practical choice for many individuals who couldn't afford expensive modern medicine. Sometimes, it can even be considered a better option for certain medical conditions that modern medicine struggles to treat.
It is evident that the Agency is fulfilling a valuable role in restoring our natural medicine and remedies and presenting them globally for us and others. In this, we can learn from the practices of the Indians and Chinese, which have impressed the global medical community, according to Onaiyekan.
The previous president of the Christian Association of Nigeria suggested that people should discard the belief that Nigerian traditional healers are involved in fetish practices.
The religious leader remarked, “Now, the situation is much clearer, as we can now better understand the positive aspect of the spiritual element in traditional medicine.
“It is a recognition of the fact that healing involves a cooperation between human creativity and divine intervention. The healing properties of herbs and roots come from the Creator of plants, God himself. It is important that this be acknowledged as we use healing treatments.”
He advised the government to think creatively and reconsider the value of the nation’s natural medicine to enhance the health sector.
The Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, emphasized in his welcome address that Nigerians should acknowledge the enormous potential and power present in the nation’s natural medicine landscape.
Emeje, a pharmacy professor, stated, “In an era where the world is increasingly turning towards sustainable and holistic healthcare solutions, the significance of our agency cannot be overstated.
“We are at the forefront of pioneering research, development, and promotion of natural medicine practices that not only enhance health outcomes but also significantly contribute to the nation’s socioeconomic well-being.”
