Traditional medicine practitioners in Delta State have been warned to desist from engaging in practices that they lack requisite knowledge and professional competence to handle.
The Delta State Chairman of Traditional Medicine Board, Chief Ogbogodor Ogumu gave the warning at the inauguration of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine practitioners (NANTMP) in Asaba.
He cautioned raditional medicine practitioners against delving in to surgery, the use of syringes to inject patients, stethoscope to check heart beat and other medical instruments which falls within the exclusive purview of trained and qualified medical doctors.
Ogbogodor condemned, in very strong terms, reports of alleged indulgence of some herbalists and traditional medicine practitioners in unwholesome practices, adding that the board was determined to flush out quacks and restore sanity, professionalism and specialization in the field of traditional medicine
He urged the Chairman of the Association, Chief (Dr) Isaac Okorodudu to call members to order and operate within the confines of traditional medicine, insisting that issues that tend to dent the image of the association should stop forthwith. He disclosed that the board would embark on unscheduled visits to the operational homes of members to ascertain their sanitary conditions, particularly where they produce herbs and other medications, assuring that public health was paramount to the Board and the state Government.
The Delta State Chairman of NANTMP, Chief Okorodudu said the visit was to congratulate Chief Ogbogodor on his re-appointment for a third term and pledged their loyalty and support to the Board
He commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for reappointing Ogbogodor as the chairman of the board, describing him as a round peg in a round hole.
Chief Okorodudu conferred the position of Patron of the Association on Chief Ogbogodor and expressed the preparedness of the group to key in to the health care delivery programme as encapsulated in the MORE agenda of the state government.
Those inaugurated include Chief Dr. Isaac Okorodudu, Chairman; Chief Dr Victor Uguru, Vice Chairman; Dr Anthony Dikeanime, Secretary, while Dr Pat Okoh and Chief Dr Odili Osakwe were sworn in as Woman Leader and Treasurer, respectively.
The inauguration was witnessed by some national and zonal officers as well as local government chairmen of the Association and board members including NANTMP Vice President, Chief Nelson Idiakporna and Chief Christopher Iwale, among others.
