Oyo State made a significant stride towards promoting and regulating traditional medicine with the inauguration of the National Association of Herbal Medicine Employers (NAHME), Oyo State chapter.
The event, presided over by the state NLC Chairman, Com Kayode Martins, emphasised the benefits of local herbs over western medicines. Martins assured that drinking locally prepared herbs does not damage the kidney, citing an instance where western medicine caused kidney damage.
Drawing on his belief in the health benefits of traditional medicine, Com. Martins emphasised that local herbs should be embraced and trusted, expressing the importance of relying on traditional medicine as a means of promoting health and wellbeing.
He said: “Local herbs have been with us before the arrival of western medicines, and we must embrace them for our good health.”
“We need to trust our roots and promote our traditional medicine,” he added.
He went on to assert that drinking locally prepared herbs does not damage the kidney, drawing attention to a cited case where western medicine caused kidney damage for a patient.
In his address, the chairman of the state’s NAHME chapter, Chief Dr. Abdulfatai Ayedun, warned patrons to be cautious when seeking traditional medicine and urged them to verify the practitioner’s government registration.
Ayedun also emphasised the importance of adherence to professional regulations by traditional medicine practitioners, warning that those who fail to meet standards would be dealt with by the newly formed task force.
He promised that the task force would ensure compliance and maintain peace in the sector, encouraging the practitioners to always uphold their professional standards.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Matters, Bayo Titilola-Sodo, reiterated the state government’s commitment to encouraging traditional medicine practitioners to thrive and promised continued cooperation and support.
Titilola-Sodo stressed that the government’s support was contingent upon the practitioners’ support in return.
He expressed confidence in the task force’s ability to maintain peace and ensure compliance in the sector, emphasising the need for peace and harmony in the state.
