The Ogun State Government has intensified efforts to standardise alternative medicine practice in the state, aligning it with global best practices and guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed this while declaring open a one-day workshop for herbal practitioners at the June 12 Cultural Centre.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde, the Commissioner explained that the initiative was part of deliberate steps by the present administration to regulate and strengthen alternative medicine through structured training and retraining programmes for practitioners.
Dr. Coker noted that traditional medicine had long been an integral part of healthcare delivery, deeply rooted in cultural practices before the advent of modern medicine. She, however, emphasised the need to harmonise these practices with contemporary medical standards to enhance safety, effectiveness, and credibility.
According to her, the government remains committed to supporting practitioners with the necessary tools and facilities required to meet evolving global standards.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe, commended the practitioners for their turnout and cooperation with government initiatives, assuring them of sustained support, particularly in capacity-building programmes.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ogun State Alternative Medicine Board, Balogun Nurudeen Olaleye, expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration among practitioners, stressing that new regulatory measures would help eliminate quackery in the sector.
He warned that unregistered practitioners or those found violating the board’s regulations would face sanctions in accordance with the law, noting that registration remained a key requirement for standardisation.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Ayodeji Erinle, urged participants to take full advantage of the training workshop, adding that improved knowledge and professionalism would enhance service delivery and public trust in alternative medicine practice.
The workshop brought together herbal practitioners and key stakeholders, underscoring the state government’s resolve to build a more regulated, credible, and effective alternative healthcare system.
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