Hendrix Oliomogbe
The chairman, Edo State Traditional Medicine Board, Chief Abudu Godwin Ugbesia has debunked rumours making the rounds of a plan by the board to introduce compulsory registration and exorbitant fees for traditional medicine practitioners, shrines and ancestral worship centres in the state.
Chief Ugbesia, who spoke recently in Benin City at an interactive session with traditional doctors and medicine men also announced plans to construct a traditional medicine hospital, where mentally challenged patients would be treated with herbs, before reintegration back to their families.
The chairman further remarked that hectares of land allocated to the board by Governor Monday Okpebholo from the state government forest reserve in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area have been fully cultivated, adding that herbs for the proposed hospital will be sourced from the botanical gardens.
He said that the board will promote unity, foster oneness and harness the potential of traditional medicine practitioners for inclusive integration into health care delivery,
Chief Ugbesia reiterated his determination to protect the interest of traditional medicine practitioners from intimidation, undue harassment by security men and interference from government agencies, actions which hampers their operation.
The traditional medicine board chairman said as partners in progress, he expected his colleagues to work assiduously with the board, to among other things fulfill its statutory mandate, build synergy with the government and refrain from engaging in smear campaign against his image and not to constitute a clog in the wheel of the board's progress.
Get lamented that the board which was established in 1985, during the military regime in the defunct Bendel State was in a state of comatose, until the present administration took the bold steps to revitalize it for optimum performance.
Chief Ugbesia said: "The law setting up the board is being amended by the Edo State House of Assembly to give it legal backing. This is in conformity with the new trend in the practice of traditional medicine."
He urged traditional medicine practitioners to reciprocate the good intentions of Governor Okpebholo to accord them full recognition by registering and renewing their licenses with the board without delay.
Chief Ugbesia added: "Under my leadership, I will will not allow the board to be dormant. Traditional medicine practice, as you all are aware, is hereditary from father to son and not for charlatans. It ,should not be allowed to go into extinction."
At the meeting which was attended by the secretary of the board, Mrs Ganiyatu Vivian Uwaifo, board member, Princess Helen Asekhame, amongst others, various speakers commended the sterling leadership qualities of the board chairman and for advancing the growth of traditional medicine practice since his assumption of office.
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