Ogun To Establish College of Traditional Medicine

Ogun State Government is strongly considering establishment of a College of Complementary and Traditional Medicine, to standardize the training of practitioners in the state and reduce the rate of ritual killings in the country

Governor Dapo Abiodun dropped the hint in Abeokuta, during a day-workshop on campaign against ritual killings and quackery organized by  the State  Alternate Medicine Board(OGAMB) in conjunction with the State Command of Nigeria Police Force,to promote a wholesome alternate medicine practice for the safety of all.

The governor added that his administration would liaise with concerned agencies for setting up of the College while pleading with practitioners of traditional medicine   to collaborate with government  in ridding the society of ritual killings and quackery.

Abiodun who decried the nefarious activities of ritual killers and the negative image given to it  particularly in the State, said all hands must be on deck to expose those involved in the nefarious act to put a stop to the menace.

"Please work with us to expose those in your midst who are spoiling your name and good work. Dissociate yourselves from ritual killings and continue to be an Omoluabi" the governor pleaded.

On Isese Day celebration in the State,  Governor Abiodun assured them of  signing an Executive Order to that effect 

He lauded the practitioners for contributing to the health needs of the people, particularly those in the rural communities, assuring that his administration would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure they get adequate training for effective health care services.

Traditional medicine according to the governor,  has been in existence for long and had been useful to the people in the past

Abiodun stressed  the need for practitioners to adopt scientific method in producing their products, adding that it was imperative that the relevant government agencies test their products and certify them good for human consumption.

 "It is time to make African medicine worthwhile through scientific research and best practices. This would make the drugs compete favourably in the world stage and enhance the health of the people". 

He commended the practitioners for their enthusiasm to learn and to improve themselves, assuring that land for the building of their office would be allocated to them, while government would make a bus available for ease of movement.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, while acknowledging the role and importance of alternate medicine practitioners to the delivery of health, said that the present administration in the state would continue to play its part at ensuring   alternate medicine is regulated towards ensuring the safety of the citizens of the state.

Coker who further pointed out that the issue of ritual killings was assuming a dangerous dimension in the state, disclosed  that the state government has so far registered over 1,000 Traditional birth attendants, calling on the

alternative medicine providers to be ambassadors of the state by waging war against ritual killings and fish out quacks in their midst.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board (OGAMB), Nurudeen Olaleye,  while commending Governor Abiodun for recognizing traditional birth attendant and alternative medicine providers in the state, said that the board under his watch had been able to monitor the activities of practitioners in the state.

Olaleye also noted that  findings from the Board showed that those who were involved with illegal activities in the state were not registered practitioners, emphasizing that the monitoring team would continue to embarke on monitoring exercises to curb the activities of quacks in the profession.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Babatunde Sodimu, charged the practitioners to document their process and carry out more research to make their practice better.

Bankole while noting that the practitioners should also encourage and sponsor bills that would help develop their practice, said that the state police command recognized their importance and ready to support them at all times.