5th September, 2012
The Lagos State House of Assembly has re-affirmed its support for traditional medicine practitioners in the area of primary healthcare delivery in the state.
The Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Suru Avoseh, gave this assurance when the Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Lagos State paid an awareness rally to the State House of Assembly recently.
According to the Lawmaker, the state government is aware of the enormous contributions of trado-medicine to the healthcare system in the society.
Avoseh, who commended the practitioners, said: “We want to thank the entire members of your association in the traditional medical practice in Lagos State. We assure you of our support for the betterment of the state.”
He assured them of his support for any bill in the House that will improve trado-medicine practice.
“If you have a proposed bill on how you can improve on your traditional practice, please don’t hesitate to forward such to the House for deliberation and eventual passage into law,” he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the association, Wahab Oshodi, solicited for special annual budget for the promotion of traditional medicine among other incentives like appointment of capable traditional medicine practitioners from the association to head the state’s Traditional Medicine Board.
He urged the government to consider providing vehicles for the association to enhance research work.
Mr. Oshodi said: “Some of our renewed interest include promoting and contributing to the economy of the state in the form of research, forestry management, wildlife management, bio-diversity and profit sharing with entrepreneurs and industrialists.”
He said their visit to the House was part of the activities marking the 10th anniversary of the association slated for 31 August, 2012 with the theme: “Decade of African Traditional Medicine, what impact?”
The World Health Organisation declared 31 August every year for the promotion of material science in Africa and integration into the primary healthcare system.
—Eromosele Ebhomele