The Federal Government has introduced seven herbal medicines developed by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency to help treat and manage illnesses including prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatitis B, peptic ulcer, hypertension and high cholesterol.
The products were unveiled during an official visit by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, to the agency's office in Lagos.
The unveiling took place on Tuesday as part of the government's plan to support local drug research and reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported medicines. During the visit, the minister also held talks with leaders in the pharmaceutical industry on how to produce the medicines on a larger scale and make them available to Nigerians.
The agency revealed that it has developed more than 22 herbal products from Nigerian medicinal plants since 2023 to meet healthcare needs across the country.
Speaking at the event, Udeh said Nigeria has a large number of medicinal plants that can be used to develop treatments for many diseases. He said traditional medicine has served local communities for many years and the government is ready to help the agency overcome challenges limiting its work.
The minister promised to support the establishment of a Clinical Observational Research Centre requested by the agency. He also assured the agency that efforts would be made to improve funding through other sources instead of waiting for the 2027 national budget.
Udeh praised the agency's researchers for developing natural medicines for malaria, diabetes, sickle cell disease, erectile dysfunction and other health conditions. He said the country has the ability to produce herbal medicines that can be exported to other nations while creating jobs and generating income for Nigeria.
According to him, discussions with pharmaceutical industry leaders showed that Nigeria has the capacity to become a major producer and exporter of natural medicines. He added that the government would begin work on the proposed research centre without delay by looking for other funding options.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Prof. Martins Emeje, said herbal medicines have continued to gain acceptance because they are now produced in standard forms with proper dosage. He explained that products are now available as capsules, tablets and syrups, making them easier to use.
Emeje said the agency wants Nigeria to produce more of its own medicines instead of depending heavily on imports. He added that one of the newly introduced products has the potential to create about 3.5 million jobs if fully developed from cultivation to production and marketing.
He also called on the Federal Government to strengthen research through clinical trials by setting up a Clinical Observational Research Centre at the agency's headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The agency provided details of the newly launched products. Namdavir was developed for the treatment of hepatitis B, while Namdacid is intended for the management of peptic ulcer disease. Another product, Turmegol, is designed for the prevention and management of colorectal, ovarian and prostate cancers.
The agency also introduced Namdorol for managing high cholesterol and hypertension, Namgor as a natural aphrodisiac, and Zobo Tea for people living with hypertension.
Also speaking at the event, the Consul General of India in Lagos, Shri Kannan, said Nigeria and India have many opportunities to work together in traditional medicine. He said both countries can partner in medicinal plant research, quality control, scientific studies, biodiversity conservation, training, academic exchange and innovation in natural healthcare products.
Kannan noted that Nigeria and India have long histories of using natural medicine and can benefit from sharing knowledge and research to improve healthcare and develop new treatments.
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!