The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has announced plans to create a comprehensive database of traditional medicine practitioners across the country this year.
The Director General of the agency, Prof. Martins Emeje, made this known during a media briefing, stating that the initiative aims to integrate indigenous medical knowledge into Nigeria’s broader healthcare system.
“The agency is planning to establish research farms across the 774 LGAs of the country,” he revealed, emphasizing the importance of preserving and utilizing the country’s rich biodiversity for medical advancements.
Prof. Emeje also highlighted the agency’s commitment to addressing antimicrobial resistance, training traditional medicine practitioners, and documenting Nigeria’s diverse medicinal resources.
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported medicines, he stressed the need to tap into the vast potential of locally available medicinal plants.
“The natural medicine agency boss said it unveiled four indigenous oral medicines in 2024 as part of efforts to provide local solutions to the country’s healthcare challenges.”
A key highlight of the event was the launch of Journalists for Natural Medicine (JONAMED), a coalition of media professionals dedicated to promoting Nigeria’s natural medicine sector.
