The Nigerian government has said it is establishing a new
regulatory body to checkmate the excesses of herbal medicine practitioners in
the country.
This move is the latest in the series of reactions that have
followed the publication of an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES and DUBAWA, which
focuses on the traditional herbal medicine sector.
The new development is contained in a letter addressed to
PREMIUM TIMES by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMH) in response to the
laboratory report of the investigation earlier submitted to the ministry for
appropriate action.
This is as the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) has also reacted to the report, pledging collaboration with other relevant authorities such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to address the menace as exposed by the newspapers’ investigation.
The report exposed the harmful nature
of ‘Baba Aisha Herbal Medicine’, one of the most popular concoctions consumed
by many Nigerians.
The investigation, which includes an extensive laboratory
test, revealed that the concoction contains harmful ingredients capable of
causing cancer, lung and liver diseases for users.
A
copy of the laboratory result was sent to the ministry.
In its response contained in a letter to PREMIUM TIMES,
the ministry hinted that it is actively in the process of establishing a
regulatory body to continuously look at the activities of herbal medicine
practitioners in Nigeria.
The letter, referenced: TCAM/148/I/5, was signed by Titus
Tile, the ministry’s Director, Traditional and Alternative Medicines
Department.
“The
Federal Ministry of Health, in its mandate of provision of quality stewardship
and health for all Nigerians, is advocating and in the process of establishing
a regulatory body to checkmate the activities of these practitioners,” part of
the letter reads.
While commending these
newspapers for their efforts in exposing the harmful concoction, the ministry
highlighted some of the actions already taken by the National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which includes a seal off the building where the concoction is
being produced and arrest the producer, Salisu Sani.
It
further noted that the laboratory report has been sent to the necessary stakeholders
for further action.
In a similar reaction, the
SON said it would collaborate with NAFDAC to
address issues raised in the investigation.
The
SON is responsible for ensuring local, regional and international products sold
in Nigeria meet quality, measurement accuracy, certification and other
standards.
While
investigating, SON hinted at the collaboration to ensure standards in the
traditional herbal medicine sector in a letter to these newspapers.
“In order to
effectively address the issues raised in your report, the organisation will
further collaborate with NAFDAC,” the letter, signed by the Director-General of
the organisation, Olabayo Kunle, a professor, reads in part.
Since its publication,
NAFDAC has taken steps to restore regulatory standards and mop up harmful concoctions
from the streets.
However, there are still answers to a few promises yet to
be fulfilled.
For instance, the agency promised
to conduct its investigation and publicize
its findings but has yet to revert to this promise.
Following the publication,
NAFDAC raided the building where the concoction was being produced,
confiscated several items and arrested two people.
The next day, the producer
himself was arrested and detained after he visited NAFDAC’s office.
NAFDAC
is yet to give an update on the arrest. Part of the questions begging for
answers is if Baba Aisha has been granted bail and if he has been officially
charged to court.
The
latest attempt by DUBAWA and PREMIUM TIMES to get some answers from the agency
has yielded no positive result.
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