He stated that there was need to scientifically organise information and documentation on useful medicinal herbs, which were found efficacious in the management and treatment of several ailments in Nigeria.
Uwaifo emphasises that the first edition of Nigeria Herbal Pharmacopoeia published with the support of World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008, contained 42 commonly used medicinal plants in Nigeria.Twenty-two of the cultivated plants were indigenous to Nigeria, 18 were introduced into Nigeria from other countries, while only two were not grown in appreciable quantities in the country and as such predominantly imported.
The Permanent Secretary urged the committee to put in their expertise and explore more herbal medicinal plants not captured in the first edition. He also advised the committee to take a cue from countries with various editions of Herbal Pharmacopoeia such as, Ghana and India to update and adopt plants with similar agronomical proportion with a view of coming up with a second edition.
Also speaking at the event, the acting Chairman and former acting Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Anthony Elujoba, said that the Herbal Pharmacopoeia represented the official documentation of medicinal plants, their values and standardization of quality and quantity.The document, according to Elujoba, was also to serve as a guide to herbal production, quantity control and assurance, so that people who used herbal medicinal products would be sure of their efficacy and safety standard.
He added that the Nigerian Council of Physicians of Natural Medicine and Association of Physicians of Alternative Medicine (NCPNM) has partnered with the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo state, to establish the department of herbal medicine in the institution.
The President of NCPNM, Prof. Magnus Atilade gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the office of the UNIMED Vice Chancellor, Prof. Friday Okonofua on Thursday March 1, 2018.
Atilade, who was represented by the Secretary of the association, Olarewaju Ojeyemi, said the council was thrilled with the news of UNIMED’s interest in the introduction of herbal medicine into the university’s curriculum.
“We are indeed very glad for giving us this opportunity today in order to discuss with you on the way forward on collaboration on training and research in complementary and alternative medicine for the overall benefit of Ondo State and Nigeria at large.”
