The Anambra State Government, through its Ministry of Health, has organized a one-day seminar for the National Association of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners in the state.
Held in Awka, the seminar focused on “Registration, Renewal, Recertification Processes, and Practice Guidelines.” The event attracted practitioners from across the state, as well as resource persons from other regions.
In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, highlighted the ministry’s past challenges with unqualified medical practitioners posing as homeopaths. He emphasized that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is committed to protecting the health of Anambra residents and will not tolerate malpractice in any form.
Dr. Obidike stressed that the ministry needs to fully understand the operations of the association, including membership criteria and the locations of their facilities. He urged the practitioners to cooperate with the government to improve service delivery or risk facing regulatory crackdowns.
Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu, the State Director of Medical Services, in his opening remarks, reiterated the importance of regulating complementary and alternative medicine to prevent quackery. He pointed out that the ministry has been working tirelessly to prevent unqualified individuals from posing as homeopaths, and that stringent measures will be taken to safeguard public health.
Complementary and alternative medicine, Dr. Chukwulobelu noted, has a significant role to play in healthcare, working alongside orthodox medicine to save lives and restore health in Anambra State.
Dr. Fidelis Okeke of the Nigeria Institute of Homoeopathy, Enugu, delivered a lecture on “Potentiation and Pharmacy in Homoeopathy,” where he discussed the growing global acceptance of alternative medicine. He revealed that the National University Commission has directed Nigerian universities to introduce complementary and alternative medicine courses, as is practiced in countries like Japan, the USA, China, and India. However, he noted that the lack of government support remains a major challenge for the sector.
Dr. Ifeanyi Godwin from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology also gave a lecture on “Basic Principles and Philosophy in Homoeopathy.”
The seminar, which was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Anambra State Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session.
