By Solomon Odeniyi
The trado-medicine practitioners in the nation, under the aegis of the Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners, have expressed concern over the Federal Government’s dependence on foreign nations for vaccines to cure the ravaging Coronavirus.
The body said it found it disheartening to note that rather than encourage indigenous organisations and individuals within its fold to find a home-grown cure for the virus and subjecting such to clinical trials, the FG has shown little or no interest.
General Secretary of the group, Dr Kamaldeen Adeagbo in a telephone interview on Tuesday said the body had instituted a committee which came up with a cure before that of Madagascar came out, saying that due to the attitude of the government, there was nothing further they could do with the breakthrough.
Adeagbo said: “We had long set up a research committee and they came up with different drugs that could be used to treat and prevent the deadly Coronavirus before the COVID-19 Organic by Madagascar came to the know.
“But our government, rather than embracing and giving us the needed encouragement, has shunned us. They are relying on vaccines from foreign nations who are also battling so hard to contain the virus in their various countries.
“We then decided to put everything on hold. About five of our members have also individually come up with their own cures. These drugs are wasting away. At least let them get tested.
“The report of Madagascar is that the government of the country supported the traditional medicine practitioners to come up with the herbs which every nation, including Nigeria, wants to try out. In our own case, it is a situation of a prophet who does not get his deserved respect amongst his native people.
“We are confident of the drugs we have produced. We have professors who are members of the association that worked very hard to ensure we are not putting users’ health in jeopardy. We have in the past been producing drugs for many diseases which the people can testify to as being effective.
“These drugs are about 150 and they are certified by both NAFDAC and Standards Organisation of Nigeria. The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, founded this association and it is disheartening if they can’t give us the needed support.”