Traditional medicine practice and practitioners are accorded formal status in the Nigerian national health system, and will contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Guardian, Nigeria, Dec 6, 00

On Dec. 5 2000, the Minister of Health Dr. Tim Menakaya declared that: "After prolonged suppression in favour of conventional medicine, traditional medicine practice and practitioners henceforth would be accorded formal status in the national health system." Addressing the opening ceremony of an International Conference on Traditional Medicine on HIV/AIDS and Malaria at the NICON Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the minister also stated: "Besides evolving an articulate national policy on Traditional Medicine and Code of Ethics on its practice, government is currently in support of how traditional medicine can contribute optimally to the control of HIV/AIDS and malaria from the promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative perspectives." As if taking a cue from the minister's proclamation, United Kingdom-based Nigerian singer and international model Patti Boulaye has urged African scientists to look inwards for a cure for HIV/AIDS, especially through traditional medicine. The international model who flags off a two-day campaign against HIV/AIDS today in Abuja also plans to launch a charity foundation, Support for Africa 2000, to create awareness on the ravaging social menace which is already having Nigeria and Africa in a stranglehold.

According to the minister, the three-day conference is aimed at:

• developing and harmonising methods and protocols available for clinical outcome valuation of safety and efficacy of traditional medical treatment of HIV/AIDS;
• identifying promising traditional remedies in current use for the treatment or management of the diseases;
• providing guidelines for the biochemical evaluation and standardisation of traditional medicinal products and herbal remedies used in their treatment; and
• establishing a forum for the exchange of ideas for research and treatment of the diseases.

The conference is a joint effort by Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme (BDCP); Silver Spring, MD, USA; National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development (NIPRD) Abuja; African Scientific Co-operation on Phytomedicine and Aromatic Plants (ASCOPAP) Buea, Cameroun; Association for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine (PROMETRA) Dakar, Senegal and International Centre for Ethnomedicine and Drug Development (InterCEDD), Nsukka, Nigeria.

One of the grouses the conference had against government was the lack of "appropriate policy framework" which according to the participants, had greatly impeded the evaluation and utilisation of traditional medicines in AIDS and malaria control. "This has also prevented progressive strengthening of national and local capacities for assessing clinical situations and selecting appropriate measures aimed at reducing or preventing these diseases," they added. Speaking on behalf of the conference, Prof. Maurice M. Iwu from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) explained that a significant part of the traditional interventions involved "the use of knowledge collected from indigeneous nature populations and a serious thought given to resolving inherent ethical, social values and policy issues."

The plenary session of the conference, among other things, would review how and to what extent cultural, ethical and social structures could be incorporated into technical and scientific drug development. Menakaya wants discussions and debates on intellectual property systems, patent requirements and international agreements to be included in the discussions.

Boulaye who flew into the country a few days ago, said AIDS was real in the continent. "Over 33.6 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 23.3 million of these are in sub-Sahara Africa, representing 95 per cent of victims worldwide.

"The reality," according to her, "becomes more frightening because of the high rate of prevalence. And in 16 African countries, the infection rate is above 10 per cent, and that rate is rapidly rising." She said South Africa had a prevalence rate of 20 per cent, Zimbabwe and Swaziland 25 per cent, while in Botswana it was 36 per cent.

The artiste disclosed that already, some countries like Uganda have "responded positively" to her NGO's campaign. Her campaign also enjoys the support of prominent figures like former British Prime Minister John Major, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prince Bola Ajibola, renowned novelist, Fredrick Forsyth, among others who are also patrons of the NGO.

Quoting Dr. Lester Brown, Chairman of World Watch Institute, Boulaye, whose latest album: Christmas with Patti Boulaye, was released yesterday in UK, said the need for urgent response to the danger of AIDS and malaria in Africa was: "If we fail to respond, we will forfeit the right to call ourselves a civilised society... and our chance to help save Africa."