The Director-General of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Prof. Martins Emeje has called on governments, individuals and organisations to support research on development of indigenous medicine in Nigeria.
Emeje made the call in an interview after the unveiling of the agency’s Two Natural Medicine Products and Presentation of Malaria Prevention Kit on Tuesday in Lagos.
He identified development of the natural/indigenous medicine as an effective means through which the country would achieve universal health coverage.
He urged governments, individuals, organisations, NGOs and faith-based/religious organisations to be deliberate toward promoting growth and development of indigenous medicine.
According to him, organisational bodies can challenge the agency to conduct research on any given natural medicine product by giving it grants.
He explained that the solution to achieving economic stability of the country lied on its ability to prioritise research for development in all sectors especially the health and agriculture sector.
He noted that any country that did not have full control of its own food and medicine was ‘a joker country’, saying that food and medicine security were key to economic stability of any nation.
“It is time we promote our indigenous medicine and ensure we use them.
“The best place to functionalise the HOPE agenda of the Federal Government is in health and agricultural sector.
“The solution to our nation’s economic challenge is simple; we must prioritise food and medicine security.
“Nigerians, both private and public, must be deliberate toward promoting the attitude of ensuring that we develop our own, respect our own and we use our own.
“So, the organisational bodies including churches and mosques can support research on indigenous medicine by funding NNMDA to carry out research.
“And when you fund a particular research; it automatically belongs to you, ours is to ensure effective execution of research and present the results.
“So, we are readily available to serve,” Emeje said.
Emeje cited some of the achievements recorded by the agency in the last two years, saying that the agency had contributed significantly to research development and health of the nation.
The NNMDA introduced a new malaria prevention kit comprising Amarus herbal tea, anti-malaria herbal mosquito repellent cream among others.
NAN
