FG pledges to develop herbal medicine
The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu, yesterday said the Federal Government would support the development of traditional and herbal medicine for an efficient healthcare delivery system.
Onu stated this in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State while handing over a four-bedroom apartment and brand new Kia Rio car model donated to a 95-yearold traditional medicine practitioner, Aliyu Giwa, in recognition of his efforts in curing a prostrate cancer patient and many others, using local herbs.
The minister said Nigeria could not continue to depend on other countries to supply its drug needs, particularly when the raw materials are available locally.
“We want to assure all Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will stop at nothing until we, as a nation, fully and efficiently exploit the huge plant resources available in every states of the federation for economic development of our dear nation. We have enough to meet our needs and also export surplus to other countries”, he said.
According to him, the work of genuine traditional medicine practitioners is very important both for efficient healthcare delivery system and economic wellbeing of the nation.
He called on all traditional medicine practitioners nationwide to train and mentor younger people in order to ensure a proper transfer of traditional healing knowledge and technology for the good of the nation.
“I specifically Alhaji Aliyu Giwa commend for helping some sick people regain their health through the use of locally available herbs.
“I call on him and other traditional medicine practitioners, who are found in virtually every village and town throughout the country, to protect their intellectual property through obtaining patents for their inventions and innovation”, Onu said.
Giwa commended the minister for the honour done to him and promised to use his traditional medicine knowledge to improve on the healthcare delivery system in the country.