The Taskforce on Fake
Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (TMPA), Rivers State has arrested seven traditional medicine practitioners suspected to be fake and handed them over to police in Port Harcourt.
Speaking to The Tide on the arrest, the state Chairman of TMPA, Chief Nyefibo Nyefibo said that the 7-man taskforce was constituted to fish out and arrest anyone found hawking traditional medicine products in the state as they are regarded as fake dealers.
According to Chief Nyefibo, the taskforce which was inaugurated penultimate Monday would be enlarged to ensure proper coverage of the 23 local government areas of the state, pointing out that those arrested and handed over to the police were the mobile vehicle sellers of traditional medicine products, which is prohibited by law.
He explained that it became necessary for the association to embark on such drive because of the way and manner unregistered and unauthorised persons trade on fake traditional medicine products without recourse to their harmful effects on the unsuspecting and ignorant consumers.
The TMPA chairman noted that all the relevant agencies, including the State Ministry of Health and the police were adequately notified of the association’s action, saying that it was aimed at compelling those involved in the unwholesome practices to regularise their operations.
Advising traditional medicine practitioners in the state to register formally with the association which he said was a national body, Chief Nyefibo warned that anyone caught operating illegally would be made to face unpleasant consequences. He noted that the activities of the association were in the interest of the practitioners and the consuming public.
“All traditional medicine practitioners are expected to regularise their operations to be accredited and recognised. They must disclose their addresses for easy identification as anyone who fails to do so will be sanctioned,” he said.
Condemning the recent deaths recorded from ‘ogogoro’ consumption in parts of Rivers State, Chief Nyefibo said the association’s cardinal objective was to safeguard the health of the people and to avoid the ‘ogogoro’ saga in the traditional medicine practice.
Shedie Okpara
