Sola POPOOLA
The United Nations Federation of International ASTRO (UNFIA) has announced a far reaching interventions for members of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) .
The UNFIA Africa coordinator ,Professor Olumuyiwa Babalola who disclosed this said the global organisation is planning to empower no fewer than 75,500 members of the group from across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria .
He explained that the beneficiaries of the Empowerment would be drawn from states in Oyo, Kano and others.
Professor Babalola said the empowerment would also involve the provision of Incubator mechanism in the production and packaging of the traditional medicines.
According to him, the empowernent would be extended to Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and accessment of grants for Sustainability.
“Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to form an integral part of the social, cultural and religious fabric in most rural communities in Nigeria.
“The objectives of the ongoing program is to empower TBAs and assess the use of a culturally adapted audio-visual workshop intervention to change their knowledge, attitude and willingness to promote immunization uptake.”It will also focus on the nitty-gritty of incubation processes, the production and packaging of herbal medicine”Babalola said .
Recall that UNFIA had expressed commitment to establishing the UNFIA African Traditional Medicine Practitioners Cente in Nigeria during a conference organised by the SouthWest chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) in conjunction with UNFIA in Abeokuta, the Ogun State .
At the Conference, the UNFIA also promised to work hand-in-hand with Nigerian authorities to develop guidelines, standards, and protections for traditional medicine practices. We will advocate for the inclusion of traditional medicine in public health programs, national insurance plans, and community health initiatives.
“Additionally, we will work to protect the intellectual property rights of traditional practitioners and indigenous communities, ensuring that their knowledge is preserved and respected, not exploited. By advocating for strong policies, we can create a sustainable framework that allows traditional medicine to thrive”