By Doris Obinna Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), has urged for standardisation of traditional medicines by way of encouraging indigenous drugs research in the country. Director General, NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, said this during an end of the year media parley to induct members of the media as ‘Journalists for Natural Medicines (JONAMED).
’ He spoke on the theme: “The Media as Natural Medicine Ambassadors,’’ stating that Nigeria should embrace traditional medicines and their teaching in Nigeria schools. He reiterated need for indigenous drugs research, emphasising that traditional medicines should be added in the curriculum of learning in schools: “Students in higher learning should enrol in schools to learn traditional medicines the same way they enrol to learn Pharmacy and other courses. It does not necessarily need to be taught by a professor with degrees.
” He stressed the need for Nigerians to be proud of their roots adding that traditional medicines were sustained in the past, hence the need for it to be standardised: “The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has accredited the agency as the awarding body for national skills qualification in traditional medicine in the country. “Eighty per cent of traditional medicines were highly effective in addressing health challenges, without pronounced side effects. Allopathic medicine and its composition were being taught in Nigerian schools, the same pride of place should be accord.