Kunle Adelabu
-As Ayangbure pays registration fees for 100 members
The Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, on Monday, April 5, 2021, continued its advocacy and sensistisation programmes for members, and also sued for good professional conducts.
The first of the sensitization exercise, which holds annually across the five Divisions in Lagos State – Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos and Epe, was held at the Ayangbure palace in Ikorodu.
At the event, over 100 traditional medicine practitioners who have not regularized their membership of the board were paid for by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi.
Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Professor Adebukola Olushola Ositelu, welcoming members to the programme, called for cooperation and support from traditional medicine practitioners.
She assured them that the board is ready to take traditional medicine practice to a greater height.
“Since we came on board about a year ago, we have had several meetings with you and your representatives and we agreed on many things among which we have started implementing and which you have been seeing.
“I want to assure you that we are still on track to achieving others. Let’s continue working together in unity.
“We are happy that those that deal in herbs that have not been with the board for some years are now back with us.
“I want to assure you all that the government is happy with us and that is why we are appointed to manage the board and we are going to work with you in such a way that will promote the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board”, she said while assuring members at the event.
“We also urge you to let us know any suggestion that we can use in achieving our aims and objectives and we are ready to listen to you”.
She also emphasized the importance of registering as a member of the body to allow for unhindered operations.
“There is nobody in Lagos State that can operate as a traditional medicine practitioner without the certification of the board.
“What we are doing is to sensitize our people on what is expected of them before the enforcement. It’s been about a year since we have started the sensitization.
“What we have been doing with our meetings is to understand your challenges and needs and work with you in improving the status of the traditional medicine which has been relegated. But we cannot do this without your support.
“It is God that created herbs and made them available for us to make use of. We have to ensure that orthodox does not take over all that you have inherited and endowed with by God, by ensuring that you inculcate the knowledge in your children.
“We are ready to give you maximum support if you are ready to operate under one umbrella and follow the rules.
“On this note, I urge those that are yet to register to do so and those that have done that but needed renewal to also do the needful. We have also given consideration for some people that are owing for about 15 years to pay for just 10 years.
“This is the only way that we can partner with you and come to your aid whenever the need arises”.
She also revealed that the state government is ready to support the traditional medicine practitioners and give the practice its rightful place.
The Chairman of the board also stated that they are working with NAFDAC for approval of some traditional medicines.
“The Governor of the State and Commissioner for Health are really interested in what we are doing and they want us to progress like the orthodox medicine practitioners so that we can give people choices.
“We are planning a clinic where we can attend to people. You will be the one to select those that will represent you in running the clinic.
“We have also started the process of getting approval for our drugs but NAFDAC is a very difficult agency to deal with. Let me assure you that we are working on it”.
Prof. Ositelu also charged practitioners to always have records of their patients and how they are treated, adding that the sensitization will continue across the remaining four divisions in the state.
“It is also important that you have files for all your patients by documenting their correct names, age, ailments, drugs prescribed that work and those that do not. This is how to show that you are working.
“After Ikorodu, we are extending this meeting to Badagry and other parts of the state.
“It is also imperative to announce to you that the government has agreed to provide us with another office place to be used as laboratory. All that we will be doing will be on record through the use of medical journal”.
In his royal remarks, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi charged traditional medicine practitioners to be professional in their conducts, and advised them that registering with the board will provide them with support when they are in need.
The royal father also charged them on the need for unity among practitioners.
“We are born into traditional medicine and we were brought up in it and I thank you greatly for not allowing it to go into extinction”, he said.
“I can recall that you all promised me that you will register with the Board as practitioners the last time we met but anyone among those who have not registered should step out.
“You need to work in unity, that’s how you can achieve your objectives. I could recall that I had paid the registration fees for some members before. But if we still have others that are yet to register, I implore them to come out.
“Registration is very important and compulsory because this is the only way to be admitted as members.
“This is a sensitization programme which is part of the government’s efforts to engage you and ensure that you are professional in your conduct. You need to listen to directives of those coordinating you.
After calling out those that are yet to register according to their council areas in Ikorodu Division, Oba Shotobi announced the payment of registration fees for 100 members of the board at rate of N7000 per a member.
Mr Kadiku Olawale Olorunkemi, Registrar, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the issue bothering on practice and collaboration between the orthodox and traditional medical practitioners has been resolved.
He said that part of the reason for the sensitisation and advocacy programme is to ensure that members are well informed about their professional conducts and prevent them from going against the rules.
“Traditional medicine profession has a lot of regulations binding it and it is very important that we go out to sensitise the people and advocate the need for them to adhere to regulations”, he said.
“The regulations guiding the practice of the traditional medicine in Lagos State are called Health Sector Reform Law 21, Part 9.
“What we do on a quarterly basis is to go to all the five divisions in the state. After Ikorodu, we are going to Badagry, Epe, Lagos Island and Ikeja”.
He added that part of efforts to improve members’ capacity is the compulsory training in orthodox and traditional ways.
“In Lagos, we have also been able to integrate traditional medicine into the orthodox practice. For instance, our Traditional Birth Attendants, after being trained in the mandatory six weeks orientation that has been organized by our agency, are also expected to advance to the General Hospital in Lagos for another six weeks training called, ‘General Hospital Immersion Programme’ ”, Mr Kadiku said.
“The training is supposed to expose the Traditional Birth Attendants to modern methods in the practice. They are being taught how to observe vital signs, take delivery in a better manner and know when to refer patients so that things don’t get out of hands”.
