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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Traditional, Complementary and Natural Health Resources (TCAM) stakeholders in Nigeria has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to upgrade the present Department of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicines of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to an independent ministry.
They made the appeal on Sunday in a communique at the end of its South-South region conference on movement for the creation of the ministry, in Benin, Edo State.
The communique jointly by the convener, Prof. Adedamola Bank Kadejo, Prof. Joseph Akpile (South-South TCAM leader), Prof. Baba Ejiga, Prof. Anastasia Ndidiamaka and Dr. James Iwowarri, acknowledged Tinubu’s innovative reforms, like the creation of the Ministry of Blue Economy and others.
They stated that countries like India and others in the East had institutionalised TCAM ministries and are contributing significantly to their respective economy, adding that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from the strategic move as the proposed Ministry would generate income and create employment opportunities.
The communique directed to President Tinubu read in part: “We, the entire body of Conferences of Traditional, Complementary and Natural Health Resources (TCAM) stakeholders, respectfully appeal for the creation of an independent Ministry of Traditional, Complementary and Natural Health Resources Development, separate from the present Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“Your visionary leadership has brought innovative reforms across sectors, such as the creation of the Ministry of Blue Economy, the Ministry of Livestock and the Ministry of Regional Development.”
These noble initiatives are already yielding positive results.
“In the same spirit, we seek your support to establish a dedicated ministry that will give TCAM the deserved attention, regulation and development.
“Globally, countries like India and others in the East have institutionalised TCAM ministries, contributing significantly to their economy, healthcare delivery and foreign exchange earnings. Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from this strategic move,” the communique said.
Besides, it stated that the proposed ministry will also promote advanced research in TCAM and complement the existing healthcare system, regulate and standardise TCAM practice, coordinate the activities of TCAM agencies at national and sub-national levels, provide affordable and accessible alternative healthcare, promote collaboration between mainstream medical practitioners and TCAM practitioners and enhance Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings through export of herbal medicines.
The communique listed the supervising and collaborating agencies of the proposed ministry to include TCAM Council, Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Federal Universities’ Faculties of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, National Biotechnology Centre, Abuja.
Others are National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development Proposed Federal Traditional and Integrative Medical Centres, the Proposed National Institute of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medical Research Proposed TCAM Health Farm.
“The housing of this vital sector under the Ministry of Health has not yielded the desired results. A dedicated ministry will reposition TCAM for optimal contribution to national health and economic development,” the communique observed.
