Expanding The Frontiers Of Herbal Medicine

Last Updated on Saturday, 13 February 2010 13:15 Monday, 08 February 2010 12:08

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In its continuing efforts at collaborating with its counterparts in the orthodox medical practice, Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories organized the second edition of its annual training for orthodox medical practioners at Pax Herbal Centre for 2009.

Rev. Fr. Anslem Adodo, OSB, in his welcome address explained that Pax Herbal is irrevocably committed to the transformation of the herbal medicine sector because over 70 per cent of Africans depend on herbal medicine when they fall ill. He added that most families in Nigeria are resorting to herbal medicine in the treatment of malaria due to widespread resistance of the illness to orthodox drugs and the rampant seizure of fake malaria drugs by regulatory agencies.

Adodo reasoned that having received visitors from the World Health Organisation, (WHO); the United Nations; the United States; Europe; Zimbabwe; Abuja and other capital cities in Nigeria, it became imperative to approach the management of Irrua Specialist Hospital, in whose locality Paxherbals operate, for a formal visit.
He disclosed that a corroborative programme in which the Sickle Cell Centre, in Benin, uses Pax Herbal products for its patients is already in progress. The Sickle Cell Centre is expected to intimate pax with a detailed progress report.

Adodo reiterated that Pax Clinic has over 2000 HIV patients in its clinical list, covering a period of 10 years, adding that the poor ones among them are usually given free herbal treatment.

“Our ultimate goal”, he continued, “is the production of anti-retroviral capsules that will be affordable by the poor rural dwellers. So, we need a CD4-Count (CYFLOW machine), and viral load, (PCR machine), of persons living with HIV/AIDS, so as to have a properly documented follow up”. Fr. Adodo described the visit of the Management of ISTH and the management of the College of Medicine, during the 2nd phase of Pax Herbal training for orthodox medical practitioners as “a pleasant coincidence”. Retrospectively, it was reminiscent of the Edo State Commissioner of Health visit to Pax Centre in February, on the last day of 1st workshop.

In his response, the CMD, Prof. Akpede, who spoke in a cheerful tone, recalled, “The management of ISTH was here four years ago, but I must admit that Pax, then, was not what it is today. “Today”, he paused, allowing a pregnant smile to crawl along his lips: “Pax is a transformed place and we are glad to have come here today. Most of the agents used in the relaxation of muscles are from plants”.

“Almost 100 per cent of what we saw are positive. Even the negative points noticed, if any, also have their positive sides. We can collaborate in research; treatment of malaria; Lassa fever and HIV. Lassa fever remains a major challenge to us. We believe this cooporation will be very fruitful”, he admitted. Prof. Akpede assured his audience: “We are determined to break the mysticism associated with herbal medicine. We should not blame our fore-fathers; they were influenced by survival instincts. We are begging those still tarrying to strive to document the herbal cure they know. From what we have seen, our medical students need to come here for some practical studies before their graduation”, he assured.

In his remarks, the Dean of the College of Medicine, Prof. Obede, promised to promote a fruitful collaboration with Pax that would require medical students from AAU to do some practical internship at Pax Centre, in order to gain some knowledge in the administration of herbal medicines before their graduation”.

Those who participated in the workshop include Prof. Joseph Sodipo, a physician, anesthesiologist and acupuncturist; Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi, Medical Director, F & G Clinic and Laboratory Services; Dr. Emmanso Umobong, Programme Director, Sickle Cell Outreach Programme; Dr. Chidi Nwankwo, former Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA), Dr. Gladys Onojobi, Assistant Professor, hematology/oncology division, Howard University, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Felicia Nwogalaga, a pharmacist and Pax distributor; Dr. Patrick Ijewere, a medical doctor and pharmacist as well as Executive Director, Pax International; Mrs. Elizabeth Odili, a pharmacist and Pax Coordinator, Rivers State; Ms. Anthonia Osifo, a nurse and an executive of Pax International; Mrs. Kate Joe-Nwasha, a nurse and Pax Herbal Coordinator in Niger State and Mrs. Chinyere Uzoh, a nurse and Pax Herbal Coordinator in Abia State.