Chinyere Amalu
29 June 2008
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the use of Stem Cell transplantation therapy in Nigeria , the Federal Government Friday inaugurated the first technical national committee to articulate and produce a blueprint on the research and application of the new technology.
Also medical experts in Nigeria have insisted that unless there is a national policy backing the application of the Stem Cell in the nation's health sector, its applications remains illegal. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Science and Technology Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhere, said that the inauguration was part of the recommendations of participants at the end of a national workshop on "Stem Cell Transplantation as medicine of the 21's century" held last year in Abuja, which agreed that Stem Cell research and therapy is an emerging area of medical science globally.
Her words, "The use of Stem Cell to repair diseased, injured and debilitated tissues and organs of the body which is stem cell therapy, and known as Stem Cell transplantation is a medicine of regeneration. It is a new addition to the therapeutic armamentarium of the medical profession. Despite the opposition to parts of Stem Cell therapy, the entire filed has grown in a healthy way"
She however, pointed out that already some political leaders around the world and religious leaders have continued to oppose the use of Stem Cell because of their belief that it involves destruction of human embryo. "However, there is a worldwide political and ethical controversy over stem cell research that emanated from the techniques used in the creation and usage of Stem Cell. Presently, the only controversial stem cells are those taken from human embryo.
"Stem Cell taken from balls of cells that develop days after conception are far more powerful, giving rise to all tissues in the body. Some political leaders around the world and also religious conservatives oppose their use because they involve destruction of human embryo. The ensuing debate has prompted authorities around the world particularly in the United States to seek regulatory framework and highlighted the fact that stem cell represents a social and ethical challenge", she explained.
The minister said there was still existence of great deal of social and scientific uncertainty surrounding stem cell research which according to her could possibly be overcome through public debate and future research. "Here in Nigeria, government is encouraging and promoting further research in this field, hence one of the reasons for constituting this committee", she said.
According to the group chairman/CEO of Stem Cell Transplantation Project for Africa, Dr. Perry Illoegbunam, stem cell is all about repairing of diseased injured and debilitated tissues and organs of the body. "Stem cell Plantation started 100 years ago and has been going on. Human embryo stem cells come about due to political reasons to play down zero plantations. It is already taking over medicine and that is why it has been suppressed, it has no side effects, but can be used to cure all sorts of ailment", he said.
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