The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) says 70 per cent of Nigerians patronise herbal medicines. In an interview in Abuja, Samuel Etatuvie, NNMDA director-general, said that would not undermine orthodox medicine.

Mr Etatuvie said part of their mandate was to research, collect, and document indigenous herbal products, with 14 already researched. He added that five of the products had been listed by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), while the rest are awaiting.

“Natural medicine practice is as old as mankind. The orthodox medicine came several decades after natural medicine, which is mainly being practiced in rural communities. Today in Nigeria and across the world, both natural and orthodox medicine are being practised concurrently,” the NNMDA boss explained.

He added, “In Nigeria specifically, I can say that we have more than 70 per cent of Nigerians that patronise natural medicine practitioners because our rural areas do not have modern health care facilities.

“With respect to herbal medicine, we have herbal medicine practitioners or herbal products in each community.”

Apart from addressing health, Mr Etatuvie said natural medicines were also associated with different purposes, including protection, the act of disappearance, massaging, colour management and traditional birth attendants, among others.

(NAN)