The World Health Organisation “Strategy on Traditional Medicine 2014-2023” places great emphasis on the integration of traditional medicine into healthcare delivery system in member countries, while it promotes the adoption of integrative health in the management of health challenges, as many more countries in the world are aligning with these strategies in their healthcare delivery systems.
The resulting effect, Olorunkemi said, has greatly assisted the standardisation of herbal medicine and proper administration of dosage, thereby enabling the effective management of the six priority diseases. The Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board Coordinating Director explained that the effectiveness of the healthcare delivery system is determined by the availability of human resources, lamenting that currently, there is shortage of skilled healthcare workforce in Nigeria due to several reasons.
According to Olorunkemi, the role of traditional medicine in achieving universal healthcare is highly significant and cannot be underestimated, as its practitioners are major players in the provision of healthcare services in the country.
He said there are no platforms by researchers in Africa to meet with practitioners, share knowledge, experience and expertise, as well as to collaborate and cooperate for successful solutions to these ailments.