Reps endorse NNMDA’s plan to mainstream traditional medicine

The Federal House of Representatives has described the plans of the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to roll out a comprehensive national strategy to mainstream and commercialise traditional medicine as encouraging and capable of reducing healthcare costs in Nigeria.

In his remarks during a visit to the agency, the Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Compliance, Hon. Badau Yusuf Ahmed, assured the agency of the legislature’s commitment to its goals.

“The agency’s plans are encouraging and filled with potential to reduce healthcare costs and promote economic development.

“I want to assure you that we are committed to ensuring the actualisation of these goals,” he said.

Speaking also, the Director-General of the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Prof. Martins Emeje, stated that with adequate funding and support, Nigeria could lead Africa in the global herbal medicine market.

He noted that the agency was seeking ₦2 billion in funding and approval to deploy 15,480 personnel across the 774 local government areas to execute its nationwide traditional medicine initiative.

Emeje said the goal was not only to improve healthcare delivery through the use of scientifically validated herbal remedies but also to tap into the immense economic potential of Nigeria’s rich biodiversity.

“With the right investment, Nigeria will become a net exporter of medicinal plants and natural medicine products within one year,” he stated.

“Key elements of NNMDA’s plan include conducting clinical trials on herbal formulations for diseases such as malaria, sickle cell anaemia, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, urinary tract infections, and skin diseases.

“The agency is also working to establish a national herbal pharmacopoeia, a digital pharmaceutical database, and a repository of indigenous medical knowledge.

“The agency has already taken significant steps towards international collaboration, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Niger Data Invest and partnering with global health organisations to advance traditional medicine research and commercialisation.

“NNMDA’s work is also backed by policy reforms. Traditional medicine practitioners will now be required to undergo certified training through a national skills acquisition programme to ensure standardisation and safety in the sector,” he said.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE