The Federal Ministry of Health has been urged to establish a board for traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine inside the country’s healthcare system by the Association of Integrative Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria.
At the Third Annual National Conference on Integrative Medicine in Abuja, Dr. Johnson Elechi, the Association’s National President, made the call.
According to DElechi, the call was made in order to support some of Nigeria’s less fortunate citizens who lacked access to traditional healthcare delivery systems and to further develop the country’s healthcare system.
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“This plan would require the board to gather data on the number of patients who visit complementary and alternative health institutions. It would also encourage and develop the teaching of complementary and alternative medicine in institutions across the nation,” he said.
He claims that since any decision made now or in the future could have an impact on the whole Nigerian population, this is a pivotal moment for the nation’s healthcare system.
As there are so many people in our association of integrative medicine who practise complementary and alternative medicine, I am confident that you will take advantage of this medium and enlist our assistance. Complementary and alternative medicine is practised in countries like South Africa, India, the United States, and Britain, and I am proud to tell you that many Nigerians have distinguished themselves in the practise of complementary and alternative medicine.Additionally, Dr. Elechi
The National Secretary of the Association, Dr. Usman Chiroma, spoke on the conference theme of “Integrative Medicine: “The New Global Medical Paradigm Shift” and urged the National Assembly to pass the Traditional, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Bill in order to further alter the perception of Nigeria’s healthcare system and bring healthcare delivery closer to the people.
Chiroma, who voiced concern about the current status of the healthcare system in the nation, said that the Association was willing to support the government’s attempts to reposition the industry.
Other conference speakers stressed the need of successful public-private sector cooperation in growing the country’s health sector.
As a result, they invited the participants to provide ideas on how to increase the acceptance of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine among Nigerians in general.
Members of the Association from all around the nation attended the conference, which included the inauguration of the Association’s FCT Board as well as the presentation of papers and awards.
