22ND INAUGURAL LECTURE

Dean, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Prof. Sunday Joel Josiah, expressed concerns over rise in public health threats in the country, stressing the need for the establishment of complementary and alternative medicine.

while delivering the institution’s 22nd inaugural lecture, titled: “Healing of the Nations: Exploring the role of medicinal flora in promoting health and Wellness across the globe.”
Josiah noted that the implications of uncovering the causes of pathologies on a cellular level are huge, and advocated that government must urgently establish and recognise complementary and alternative medicine as a policy to be incorporated into the primary healthcare delivery services, with a view to supplementing the health workers, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.
He added that efforts towards achieving and driving successful establishment of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine should include creation of the Ministry of Traditional Medicine and autonomous unit from the Ministry of Health. He called on the National Assembly to also give legal backing to the Council for Traditional Medicine.
The don said Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), which has the mandate to research, collect, document herbal products, should escalate their research to cover many products and make them listed by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“Nigeria is making progress on Biochemistry. There is still much work to be done to catch up with the advancement in the global space. In particular, there is a need to increase investments in research and development, improve infrastructure and facilities and enhance the training of biochemists and other related professionals,” he said.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of IUO, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the lecture was insightful, describing Josiah as renowned in his area of specialty.