Sanwo-Olu Unveils Code Of Conduct Handbook For Traditional Medicine Practitioners

Lagos State Government has unveiled a Code of Conduct Handbook for traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners as part of efforts to regulate their activities in the State.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the 12-page document developed by the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) clearly outlines the guidelines for traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, traditional medicine ingredients prescribed for herbal product sellers (Elewe-Omo) as well as botanical and herbal product dispensers (Alagbo), just as it states offences and penalties for defaulters.

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled the document at a public symposium to commemorate the Year 2022 African Traditional Medicine Day in Lagos, explaining that the code of conduct handbook was developed to guide traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners aright in providing quality healthcare services to citizens whilst conforming to basic ethical standards.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, expressed the need to properly regulate the practice of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine as about 80% of residents patronise the traditional and alternative healthcare practitioners for their needs.

While noting that the well-being of citizens is of utmost priority to his administration, the Governor disclosed that the State Government will take responsibility for ensuring that the traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practice is in line with best practices.

He promised that the State Government will continue to educate citizens on the benefits of traditional medicine to ensure that practitioners operate within their scope of practice.

Noting that the code of conduct handbook for practitioners is the first of its kind in Nigeria, the Governor explained that the development and launch of the document is part of steps to fight quackery in the sector as well as a show of professionalism by the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board.

Speaking on the theme of the Y2022 African Traditional Medicine Day Celebration: “Two Decades of African Traditional Medicine: Progress Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa”, the Governor said the theme was well thought out as it underscored the urgent need to ensure that both traditional and conventional medicine work together to provide sustainable healthcare delivery to citizens.

He explained the importance of traditional medicine practice in the State, informing that there are about 10,000 registered traditional Medicine practitioners in the State, which is an excess of 4000 orthodox doctors in Lagos.

In her address, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, remarked that the Y2022 African Traditional Medicine Day Celebration presented another opportunity to educate the people on the benefits of traditional medicine, adding that traditional medicine has proven to be effective in treating diseases and other health-related issues, including stress and anxiety.

Jaji, who spoke through the Director, Political Service, Mrs. Olabisi Shonibare, stated further that the present administration remains committed to the achievement of its health and environment mandate of the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda and will not relent in policy making as well as implementation geared towards achieving a sustainable healthcare delivery system.

Earlier in his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, stated that the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board has been doing a lot of work around getting traditional medicine practitioners registered and helping them build their capacity for effective service delivery.

Dr. Ogboye explained further that the State government is committed to eradicating quacks from traditional medicine practice, adding that all health caregivers in the State will be properly regulated irrespective of the spectrum, stressing that some practitioners tend to hide under orthodox or traditional practice whenever it pays them.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, Traditional Medicine Board, Prof. Adebukola Adefule-Oshitelu urged the traditional medicine practitioners to always operate within their scope to avoid putting patients at greater risk.

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She urged practitioners of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine to exude professionalism and be guided by the profession’s ethics at all times as codified in the handbook, noting that every noble profession is guided by a code of conduct that sets it apart from practice by charlatans and quacks.

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