The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), Mrs. Monilola Udoh, has advocated for traditional medicine to be included in the school curriculum to enable Nigerians develop interest in the field.
She made this call when she received the Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (NTMPA) who paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Abuja.
Udoh averred that traditional medicine if properly developed will not only eliminate medical tourism but will be a great source of revenue generation for Nigeria.
She further said that the development of traditional medicine will improve the scientific, research and innovation sector in the country.
Udoh noted that traditional medicine is a pure, undiluted and organic natural medicine which is provided by God and will be an alternative medicine to Nigerians. She added that traditional medicine should be included in the school curriculum to help children grasp its importance in the nation’s health and national growth.
She assured the association of the ministry’s support and advised it to keep with God-endowed medicine, document it as much as possible and store the data for students to study and continue the research in the future.
Earlier, the Plateau State commissioner for science, technology and innovation, Hon. Gyang Musa, who facilitated the meeting, noted that traditional medicine has been of immense health benefit to Nigerians.
Musa, however, called on the Federal Government to remove the association from the Federal Ministry of Health and place it under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the desired development.
Speaking, the president of the association Dr. Peter Dako said that the association has a lot to offer the country and the world in terms of traditional medicine.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s deputy director, press and public relations, Mr. Atuora Obed, she pointed out, however, that the challenges of office accommodation, registration with NAFDAC, among others, were some of the issues hindering the association’s progress.
