Leadership (Abuja)
Isiaka Mustapha
2 February 2008
Abuja — In the genre herbal medicine, Dr. Ayodele Akindipe, the registrar and chief executive officer of the newly established Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine is respected as a rare gem. A perusal of the catalogue of his achievements in the world of herbal medicine and its application in support of the nation's health care delivery system, obviously speaks volumes of his enviable rating.
Little wonder his appointment as helmsman of the college by the President Umaru Yar'Adua-led government was described by virtually all the stakeholders in the herbal medicine sector as a round peg placed in a round hole.
Before revealing the genesis of his sojourn in the world of complementary and alternative medicine, Akindipe, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a top staff member of Federal Ministry of Health, explained the concept of complementary and alternative medicine.
"The concept of complementary and alternative medicine is not just all about herbal medicine.
There is a difference between herbal medicine and herbalism. Herbal medicine is under alternative medicine, because under it, you can go as far as knowing the toxicology and pharmacology of the plant contents, but in herbalism you don't need this. Herbalism is under traditional medicine. You actually don't need to carry out any research as regards the components of the plant. Its herbal medicine that has been passed from one generation to the other. But our plants pass through toxicology and pharmacology in order to detect the effect of the plant - whether it's poisonous or not. Alternative and complementary medicine is basically another form of medicine which is parallel with orthodox medicine. The foundation is the same but differs in treatment. While orthodox practitioners give drugs, we offer what we call remedies or manipulation. Remedies are some of the things produced from our treated plants and can come in form of capsules. Another difference is that, while drugs could be manufactured with a formula, you cannot manufacture natural remedies, because it has got to do with the nature. Manipulation means therapy. It involves neither drugs nor remedies. Manipulation can come in form of bone or muscles adjustment. It's now in vogue in Europe and America. There is also acupuncture, which can be applied to relieve pains easily from the body. It's also applicable in surgery without necessarily opening up patients."
From a young age, I developed interest in herbal medicine and plants. Many people find it difficult to believe that apart from my formal training, I had gotten to know the usefulness, application and efficacy of most of the plants through my dreams right from a very young age," Akindipe revealed.
The registrar, who holds a PhD from Open International University for Alternative Medicine, India, explained what led to the emergence of the college and its standard compared to what is obtainable in other parts of the world.
"The advocacy for the establishment of the college had been on right from former president Obasanjo's days in office. Though I work in the Federal Ministry of Health, I had always been in the vanguard, along with other colleagues of mine, advocating for the establishment of the college. Our prayers were actually answered by the President Umaru Yar'Adua government when he granted our request.
Right now, apart from Abuja which serves as our main campus, we have campuses in Enugu and Lagos. And our projection is to establish campuses in all the six geopolitical zones. In order to achieve the expected standard, the college was actually set up by an act of the parliament, just like any other government-owned tertiary institution.
Any moment from now, we will be commencing the academic session, and we have a strong determination to take the health care delivery system to the next level. The truth is that there are a lot of diseases now ravaging mankind, and orthodox practitioners appear not to have solutions to these killer diseases. And since it has been established that alternative medicine has a 80-90 per cent chance of providing solutions to ward off these diseases, why should we fold our arms and watch helplessly? This is illogical, and I am happy the government has realised this fact, and this is why we are being supported financially to achieve the best."
Asked whether the seeming success of his efforts would not spark rivalry between complementary and alternative practitioners and orthodox doctors, he said:
"No, I don't think so. We are to complement each other. Besides, the result will be there for everyone to see. Thank God our activities and modus operandi are clearly spelt out by the law, and the question of being tagged as quacks is not there. While orthodox practitioners' activities are being superintended by the Medical and Dental Council, ours will be regulated by the Complementary and Alternative Medical Council of Nigeria. The whole thing is about achieving the best for our health care delivery system.
I believe that we have it all here. We can't just continue to jet out for minor ailments. If this is not checked, it will be a disservice on our part. Let other people come and seek medical attention here instead of going out of the country on a daily basis for medical treatment."
According to Dr. Akindipe, when fully established, the college would afford the nation the dual advantage of improving our health care delivery system, as well as creating employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians.
How can this be achieved? "I must let you know that the college is a blessing to Nigeria, in the sense that it will be departmentalised into four segments, namely: teaching hospital for practicals and patients; production unit for production of our remedies; research centres in strategic parts of the country, because plants differ from one place to another; and botanical gardens to preserve our plants so as check their extinction.
Already, we have secured some botanical gardens in Abuja. All these would create job opportunities for our unemployed youths across the country."
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i am an ayurvedic doctor from india .i read this article on the net and would be grateful if you could provide me with the address and the e-mail id of the federal college od complementary and alternative medicine
Pls let me have details of your Lagos campus. Location Address, e-mail,phone,contact person.Admission requirements. Start off date.
what are the admission requirements and is ijmb acceptable? what is the detail of academic calender.thanks
please send me the e-mail address or the phone number of Dr. ayodele akindipe i want to discuss with him
please send me the e-mail address or the phone number of Dr. ayodele akindipe i want to discuss with him. Can I also have the address of an Acupuncture treatment centre in Nigeria.
Please can I have the address of any Acupuncture treatment centre in Nigeria? Thank you.
what herbs helps the bone to heal?