The Imo State government and the National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria, NANTMP, have resolved to go after unscrupulous dealers parading as genuine practitioners and giving bad names to the Association.
The Association says the move is in a bid to flush out quacks and put an end to fake traditional medicine in the state.
The position of the association was made known by its State Chairman Chief John Amarachukwu Nwaike during the inauguration of LGA Chapters of the Association.
Inaugurating the LGA officers, the State Chairman charged members to participate in the verification exercise which the association is going to embark on very soon, warning fake practitioners to quit the field for their own good.
He said the association was putting up a task force that would go after quacks in collaboration with the State Government and law enforcement agencies.
Nwaike pointed out that quacks are giving a bad name to the association following their unwholesome practice, cautioning every practitioner in the state to identify with NANTMP by visiting its secretariat for proper guidelines.
In his speech, the special guest at the inauguration ceremony, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Prof. Emeka Ubaka, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr A.C. OKeji, expressed shock at the alarming rate of illicit drug peddlers, calling on the umbrella body of the association to ensure proper screening for intending practitioners in the 27 LGAs in the State.
Prof. Ubaka noted that Traditional Medicine is an old practice that was in place before orthodox medicine derived its origin from it.
The Health Commissioner commended the Southeast zone especially, the leadership of the State chapter for drawing up programmes for the inauguration of the Local Council chapters observing that the exercise was in line with the State Government’s plans of delivering quality healthcare services and also making it accessible to the people.
He charged the officers at the local level, not to operate outside the laws and regulations guiding it as he promised that the State Government will continue to provide the enabling atmosphere for the practitioners.
Speaking also, the Director representing Southeast at the national level Chief Linus Ogunka, applauded the Imo State leadership of the association headed by Chief Nwaike for the impressive achievements made so far.
He described the inauguration of the LGA functionaries of the State Chapter as a courageous step taken in the right direction.
Ogunka also used the occasion to charge the newly inaugurated officers to exhibit a high level of discipline by adhering strictly to the law while discharging their duties.
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