‘African Traditional Medicine Proving Orthodox Medicine Wrong’

The Institute of African and Diaspora Studies (IADS) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday said that the efficacy of African traditional medicine had changed foreigners’ misconceptions about possibilities in Africa.
The institute’s Deputy Director, Dr Obi Iwuagwu, told newsmen in Lagos that non-Africans should know that African traditional medicine was as good as the orthodox medicine.
Iwuagwu, who spoke on the sidelines of a Two-day event organised by the institute to mark this year’s World Health Day, said that Africans were already used to  herbal medicine.
“We must know that people in different parts of the world are exposed to different health issues that also requires particular medicine for treatment.
“There is realisation by many Nigerians and Africans on the need for us to embrace our herbal medicines rather than continue to depend on orthodox medicine,’’ he said.
Iwuagwu enjoined Africans not to be discouraged from the use of traditional medicine as it had also gone through several stages of research, processing and packaging to meet their local needs.
The deputy director noted that though the traditional medicine might not have been well packaged, what was most important to the users was its efficacy.