The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on traditional medicine practitioners to collaborate with the government in ridding society of ritual killing and quackery.
The governor made the call while speaking at a one-day workshop on campaign against ritual killing and quackery with a view to promoting a wholesome alternate medicine practice for the safety of all.
The event was organised by the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board (OGAMB) in conjunction with the police held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The governor, who decried the nefarious activities of ritual killers and the negative image given to particularly Ogun State, said all hands must be on deck to expose those involved in the nefarious acts to put a stop to them.
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He said, “Please work with us to expose those in your midst who are spoiling your name and good work. Dissociate yourselves from ritual killing and continue to be an omoluabi.”
On the Isese Day celebration in the state, Governor Abiodun assured that he would sign an executive order which will direct the government to liaise with concerned agencies for the setting up of a college of complementary and traditional medicine in the state.
He lauded the practitioners for contributing to the health needs of the people, particularly those in the rural communities, assuring that his administration would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure they got adequate training for effective healthcare services.
He noted that traditional medicine had been in existence for long and had been useful to the people in the past, stressing the need for practitioners to adopt scientific methods in producing their products, adding that it was imperative that the relevant government agencies tested their products and certified them good for human consumption.
He further said, “It is time to make African medicine worthwhile through scientific research and best practices. This would make the drugs compete favourably on the world stage and enhance the health of the people.”
