.. calls for more government recognition of herbal therapists
By Emeke Alexander
Health they say is wealth, and only a healthy workforce can contribute meaningfully to the development of any nation.
However, in developing countries like Nigeria, many are unable to afford quality healthcare due to poverty. Added to this, is the current sharp decline in the global economy caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
As a way of contributing his quota to the health challenges of the people of Delta State particularly those who are constrained by money, the Chief Executive Officer of Sound Health Nature & Massage Therapists Centre Limited, Shola David Ogundare, has begun a health promo, whereby residents of the state with any form of ailment will be attended to with a flat-rate amount of Five Thousand Naira (N5, 000.00.)
Speaking exclusively to RealTime24, at his Warri head office located at 149, Warri/Sapele Road, 2nd floor Old Leventis Stores, Warri, Delta State,Ogundare said the health promo will last till the end of June, 2020, stressing that with N5,000.00 anyone with any health problem can walk into any of their offices also located at Abraka and Ughelli in the state.
“We deemed it fit at Sound Health Nature & Massage Therapists Centre Limited, due to the poor economy that has worsen because of COVID-19 to contribute our quota in attending to a lot of people that are sick out there but, they don’t have money to take care of themselves.
“The promo is just you come with a token of N5,000.00, and any kind of health challenge you are facing, we help you manage it,” said Ogundare.
Commenting on the coronavirus pandemic, traditional medicine practitioner popularly called “Youngest Doctor” said, COVID-19 is very real saying efforts to combat the spread of the disease should not be left in the hands of government alone.
He said: “We herbal practitioners are trying our best too to make sure that we come out with genuine and effective remedy that can help whoever that is having the disease so as to also help to stop the spread. We are not relenting on that.
“If you are been following trends in the social media, you will see we the traditional medicine practitioners are doing. We have a group led by His Imperial Majesty, Oni of Ife. I happen to be a member of the group too. We are trying our best.”
On the efficacy of traditional medicine, Ogundare stated that professors and other educationists are patronizing them, pointing out that one major way to enhance traditional medicine in Nigeria is more government recognition of genuine traditional medicine practitioners.
He explained that some countries like India, America and Canada, where he has travelled to; their governments welcome and collaborate with herbal therapists in their healthcare delivery.
“At least, I have travelled wide. I have been to India, China, America and Canada. They welcome herbal therapists. The only thing we are having in our country here is that recognition is not much. We are trying to make sure that at least the government recognizes us more.
“So, if we are recognized more, am very sure that our products will be in the hospitals where they will be used as an alternative to Orthodox medicine. I am pleading for our government to welcome us more.
“In every field there are quacks but, you can know the genuine ones by the things you see and by their conducts. We are not God. We treat, and God heals, God cures.”