The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo said the UN agency remains committed to continue to support the Government of Nigeria in its goal of achieving self-sufficiency in the local production of pharmaceuticals (including Vaccines), traditional medicine and researches.

He made this known at a press conference to commemorate African Traditional Medicine Day on Monday in Abuja.

Mulombo who was represented at the occasion by Dr. Kofi Boateng, EPI Focal Point , Universal Health Coverage(UHC) added that, the listing of 14 herbal medicinal products by NAFDAC against COVID-19 and ongoing clinical trials on them, is in line with the Regional Expert Committee on COVID-19 aim of elevating the standards of clinical trials of traditional medicine for COVID-19.

He further stated that, the ongoing research(s) in the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development and other higher institutions, highlights the interest of the Government of Nigeria to develop and promote African Traditional Medicines

According to him; “The above are in line with the theme of this year commemoration; The potential contribution of Traditional Medicine to COVID-19 Response  

“Africa has a long history of traditional medicine and practitioners that play an important role in providing care to populations over the centuries. The African Heads of State in 2001, declared traditional medicine research a priority and subsequently designated the next 10 years as decade of African Traditional Medicine which was extended to the year 2020.

“For the past 20 years, countries in the WHO African Regional Office have marked the African Traditional Medicine Day on 31st of August each year. WHO advocate for strengthening the linkage between traditional medicine and institutionalized care in line with the WHO strategy.

“We are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO recognizes that traditional, complementary and alternative medicine has many benefits when properly harnessed with. Therefore, researches into our traditional medicines is an effort in the right direction

“WHO Nigeria has taking it up to support the ministry and in particular the department of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, Complimentary in the review of the Traditional Medicines Policy 2007, review of the Nigeria Pharmacopoeia 2008 and the development of a 5-year strategic plan to implement the new policy and the revised pharmacopoeia”, he said .

He said, WHO will continue to provide technical assistance to the TCAM department, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NPRD) and NAFDAC in improving the quality of medicinal products and ensure the listing of these products in the National Essential Medicines List.

Also, the Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnibe Mamora on Monday said that the Federal government is currently working towards the review of the Nigeria Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the Traditional Medicine Policy. 

He added that, the efforts of government in this regard have greatly minimized the negative consequences of the disease on the health and economy of Nigerians.

All these measures are aimed at strengthening our resources for delivery of quality, efficacious and safe traditional medicine products.

He said; “We also have in place an expert committee for the setting up of Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicine Institute to serve for the training of professionals in this sector.

“The series of events in the world during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic calls for the need to look inwards and consider local production of medicines as necessary for national security and attainment of Universal Health Coverage. 

“The Federal Ministry of Health on its efforts for local content tasked the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development (NIPRD) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) to scale up their activities towards the search for a local solution to the pandemic.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is working in collaboration with international organizations and relevant MDA’s to ensure the discovery of effective remedies against COVID-19 and other diseases from the rich and extensive flora of the country”, he said. 

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Alh Mahmud Mamma said that Nigeria is blessed with about 8,000 medicinal plants yet to be utilized in the area of research, development and value addition.

He added that, it is estimated that about 80% of the population that live in the rural communities utilize traditional medicine. 

He said that, traditional medicine practice preceded the use of conventional medicine in all parts of the world, Nigeria inclusive. 

He added, “There is therefore the need to look in wards to research and develop our medicinal plants for the benefit of all. The Federal Ministry of Health has intervened in several ways in order to develop, promote and institutionalize Traditional Medicine.

“We are also working on the establishment of a wellbeing Centre in the Ministry to serve the public. 

The economic benefit of traditional medicine is the provision of jobs to our unemployed youths in the area of conservation, cultivation and harvesting of medicinal plants. This will help reduce youth restiveness. 

The activities for this event include exhibition and symposium”, he added. 

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, stated that we will have to live with Covid-19 in the long run and must devise a strategy to do so.

More so, the plan would vary each country, depending on their position, strengths and shortcomings.

He added that the quest for and path to such sustainability will need to be continually reassessed to accord with current circumstances.

On COVID-19, Ehanire said there can be no “one-size-fits-all” and countries must seek the best of both safety and socio-economic normality.

He added, “The dreaded 3rd wave of Covid-19 may appear to be leveling out, because there been no catastrophic increases in infections and fatalities. But it is not wise to assume that the threat is gone, especially as cases are fluctuating and have to be identified by genomic sequencing. Evidence so far, however, is that the Delta strain is already the dominant in Nigeria. We must keep our protective measures in place and increase testing to determine our situation.

“There are reports of new coronavirus mutations circulating in other countries, a development we shall monitor with all tools available to us, to ensure we respond appropriately. We also remain on alert at Points of Entry, including land and sea borders, to confront importation of Covid-19. Several cases have been indeed been identified by Rapid Diagnostic test and taken care of accordingly.

“Regarding vaccines, all States have received doses of AstraZeneca, Moderna and J&J vaccines for the ongoing 2nd phase of the vaccination exercise in all States. The Federal Government has done due diligence to ensure vaccine quality and safety. Available data shows that there have been no serious adverse effects so far, following vaccination so that confidence in vaccines we are using is upheld. We have a good mix and quantity of vaccines, and do not envisage shortages, despite news reports that vaccines allocated to Africa will be reduced by 25% soon. We believe the reduction may be linked with increased demand in high income countries many of whom have commenced 3rd booster doses of Covid-19 and or reduced vaccine eligibility age in their countries to 12 years or even less. This tells us that the vaccine is effective, and that we should also accept it. The government has secured nearly 40 million doses of J&J vaccines to be arriving at a rate that NPHCDA will set, to align with
their utilization strategy. We shall also surely receive donor doses, so that we do not expect to be impacted by the expected shortfall.

“As of today, we have recorded a total of 199,151 confirmed cases of Covid 19, 365 in the past 24hours, from 2,941,438 samples tested so far. We have also sadly altogether lost 2,598 persons, 8 in the past 24hrs, and a case fatality rate of 1.3%, a slight increase over the 1.2% of a few weeks ago. NCDC will give further details on this.

He, however urged all citizens to avail themselves of the opportunity of the second phase of vaccine deployment, to be vaccinated. I also call on those who received their first dose to go for the second dose, when due, to optimize protection from infection.

Meanwhile , the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said in order to end this pandemic, we must achieve enough level of population immunity, that the virus essentially becomes a nuisance and no longer a threat.

Saying, the only way to achieve this is if eligible persons come out for vaccination and observe the non-pharmaceutical interventions. The COVID-19 vaccines remain the most effective tool against this virus.

According to him; “With the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 globally, we are beginning to see countries instituting vaccine mandates. Some countries have begun asking workers to either present a proof of vaccination or provide weekly COVID-19 PCR negative results in order to be allowed into public offices.

“A recent study by the United States Centre for Disease Control (USCDC) which examined 600,000 COVID-19 cases, revealed that people who were unvaccinated were about four and a half times more likely to contract COVID-19. It further showed that those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 were eleven times more likely to die of the disease and ten times more likely to be hospitalized with the disease. We should also be mindful of the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection, which is characterized by blood clotting disorders, lung and kidney problems”.

Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu on Monday launched the second round of the Administration’s polio virus outbreak response in the nation’s capital on Monday.

The minister vaccinated two new born babies as the principal vaccinator at the Area 2 Primary Healthcare Centre, Garki Abuja, urging mothers to take the immunization seriously and maintain appropriate hygiene.

According to her; “We urge all mothers to come out and vaccinate their babies, because we want polio to be kicked out or eradicated, and we want the status to be maintained. I know mothers are the most excited people in the world especially with a new born baby. However, follow all the processes as directed by medical personnel.  

“Also be reminded that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, therefore keep observing all the protocols by wearing your face mask and keeping physical distancing. I am happy you are all wearing your face mask, keep doing that even in market places,” Aliyu cautioned.  

Aliyu also assured that FCT would participate in the October National Immunization Plus Days when under 5 children in the FCT and the 36 states of the federation would have another opportunity to be vaccinated with the potent novel oral polio vaccine.  

The Minister commended WHO for supporting the teams with logistics, Unicef supports in advocacy, communication and social mobilization, while charging the area councils to expand the reach.  

In his remarks, the Ag. Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, said the first round was conducted in the 5 area councils of Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Kuje and Kwali last month, August, 2021 and all are due for the second round in the month of September, 2021.  

He stated that the first-round report showed Abaji, Kwali and Bwari performing well and passing the end process evaluation at first test, while Abuja Municipal and Kuje Area Councils had to undertake mop-up exercises to meet the required coverage and eventually passed the end process test.