FG urged to intervene in herbal medicine research

A trado-medical practitioner and Managing Director, Mojeaga International Ventures Limited Mr. Monday Ojeaga Alugeh, has called on the federal government to support them with grants to enable them carry out research and complement the medical profession.

Alugeh, who made the call at a press conference and award ceremony, described lack of access to grants and government support as the bane of trado-medical practitioner in the country.

According to him, a lot need to be done in the trado-medical sector as practitioners are willing to carry out researches on herbal medicine that can address some major ailments.

“The challenge in herbal medicine is that most of the practitioners are not certified and the cost of research is very high. In Mojeaga, we have spent all the resources we have to bring out this product to ensure that it is safe and efficacious.

“Research is money consuming and there is no grant anywhere. If the federal government can set up a department that will make research into traditional medicines to be less expensive, it will help practitioners and the national,” he said.

Speaking on his Mojeaga Herbal Remedy, a product that is sourced and produced in Edo State, he said the product is readily available in many health shops nationwide.

He said the product was registered by NAFDAC in 2011 and has the efficacy for blood boosting.

Alugeh disclosed that the product which had been “thoroughly researched on by renowned professors, Prof. Macdonald Idu of the University of Benin and Prof. George Uchenna of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital who have also given their recommendations for its usage for patients suffering from sickle cell anaemia.”

“They have carried out clinical trials to confirm the safety and efficacy of Mojeaga on pregnant woman. These studies were successful and have been published in a reputable health journal,” he added.

On his part, Prof Idu of the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, said the herbal remedy had gone through clinical and laboratory trial using the animal model to determine its efficacy and that it passed the test.

“From the aspect of toxicology to the issues that we look at in sickle cell anaemia, and the bone maro experiment, the result were very good and we have no doubt that it is safe for use,” he said.