By Ifeanyi Onyejeke
Governments of the 36 states of Nigeria have been called upon to support Complementary/Alternative Medicine Practitioners to enable them to discharge their duties to persons in need of such services.
Stakeholders from the Complementary/Alternative Medicine Practitioners made the call at the second South-South conference and convocation ceremony of the Havilah Holistic Medicine Academy held in Effurun, Delta State.
The Complementary Medicine Practitioners gave kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of the Traditional, Complementary/Alternative Medicine TCAM Department to oversee activities of Complementary Medicine Practitioners in Nigeria.
Led by the President of the Nigeria Union of Practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NUPCAM, Professor Bade Adewale, the practitioners advocated that the various states in Nigeria should tow the same line with President Buhari by recognising Complementary/Alternative Medicine Practitioners to aid them in their health services to humanity.
Professor Adewale further said that Complementary/ Alternative Medicine Practitioners as the name implies are established to offer complementary health functions noting that both Orthodox and Traditional Medicine Practitioners need each other.
Lead paper presenters, Dr Shitta Abbey and Professor Afonja said going by available records complementary medicines have been found to provide complete cures to serious health ailments which Orthodox Medicine may find to be difficult.
The duo added that Orthodox Medicine appears to have side effects due to the chemicals used in the production of Orthodox drugs adding that complementary medicine has little or no side effects as green leaves and nature are some of its ingredients.
The second part of the programme was the convocation ceremony which saw over forty graduands formally received into the practice of Complementary Medicine.
Secretary to the Delta State Traditional Medicine Board, Mrs Bridget Omonemu was decorated as an honorary member at the ceremony while Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was Presented with an award.
Dr Shitta Abbey was promoted at the ceremony as the Director of Studies of Havilah Holistic Medicine Academy.
Dean of Havilah Holistic Medicine Academy, Dr Joseph Akpile, said Havilah Holistic Medicine Academy was affiliated with the Open International University for Complementary Medicine Sri Lanka in South Asia.
Dr Akpile said the Open International University for Complementary Medicine has existed since 1962 and urged the graduands to see themselves as worthy ambassadors of the institution anywhere they find themselves.
He revealed that the graduands have come out with various degrees in Complementary Medicine urging them to continue to work in synergy with their lecturers whenever the need arises.
Various NUPCAM representatives in their goodwill messages commended the Visioneer, Dr Joseph Akpile for training students in the area of Complementary Medicine revealing that most of the students have also turned out to be successful.
Some of the graduands expressed their optimism to get to the peak of their careers.
Awards were presented to some individuals during the ceremony, including a posthumous award to the late Mrs Nwokobia.
Dignitaries at the event moved round the exhibition stands to see for themselves the achievements of Complementary Medicine.
