The Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) has commissioned its first zonal office in Ikorodu for the benefit of traditional medicine practitioners in the axis.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Prof. Adebukunola Adefule-Ositelu spoke at the opening and applauded Ikorodu practitioners for ensuring that the project became a reality.
Prof. Adefule-Ositelu, however, appealed to the practitioners to keep and maintain the edifice by taking ownership of it, rather than regarding it as government property, just as she pleaded for support from all stakeholders within Ikorodu and its environs in order to enjoy more developmental projects and laudable initiatives.
Her words: “Don’t engage in any disagreement, unite for a strong purpose, speak with one voice, and I can assure you that by so doing, you will attract the attention of the government for more impactful projects”.
Speaking further at the event held at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat, the Chairman informed the gathering that while the Board is presently working on standardisation and certification of drugs, all practitioners are expected to comply with the requirements of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
In his welcome address, Registrar of the Board, Mr. Olorunkemi Kadiku, expressed joy for the successful commissioning of the edifice since the project was conceived in 2018.
Kadiku, who is also a member of the State Primary Health Care Board, enjoined the practitioners to henceforth visit the Ikorodu zonal office for registration, renewal or information about the activities of the Board, noting that all the services are now being offered at the new zonal office.
While explaining the strategic position of Ikorodu in terms of easy access, the Registrar explained that all training programmes would, however, continue to hold at LSTMB headquarters on the Island.
In his goodwill message at the programme, the Head of Faith-based practitioners, Prof. Rufus Oguntuase (JP), spoke on the universality of traditional medicine as everybody uses traditional medicine one way or another, either through green leaf consumption or drug intake.
He thanked the Ikorodu community for bringing the project to reality and appealed to the Chief Health Officers to improve on their activities for the sake of peace and cooperation with the State government.
Chairman, TBAs Ikorodu West, Chief Dosu Joseph, commended the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi, for encouraging traditional medicine practitioners to uphold government’s directives, pleading with TMB to prevail on practitioners to come back home to their associations after training and registration.
Representative of the State Primary Health Care Board, Mrs. Kehinde Folarin, appealed that training programmes for practitioners in Ikorodu and environs should now be held at the new office, just as she commended the roles of stakeholders in the siting of the first zonal office of Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board in the axis.
Also speaking, Otunba Fatai Sulaimon, a member of the Board, admonished the gathering to take full advantage of the new office for all activities except training, to avoid the risk and stress of coming over to the headquarters.
Other members of the Board in attendance include Chief Tajudeen Mare Olusesi; Pharmacist Bayo Ogunbadejo and Mrs. Temilade Fayemi, as well as management staff, among others.
