By Ayo Fadimu
Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board has inaugurated Elders Consultative Forum to streamline and regulate operations of the Board.
Inaugurating the Board, at OSAMCA hall, Abeokuta, the Chairman of the Board, Balogun Nurudeen Olaleye said the body would be working on enforcement and streamlining of quacks from the real practitioners.
Olaleye said numerous relevant institutions had been contacting the Board for partnership on Alternate Medicine practice on the need to discover new drugs for various illnesses.
According to a statement signed by the Press Officer, Alternate Medicine Board, Dolapo Jinad.
The Chairman added that the practice has gone beyond secrecy, saying, many offers had been given to the board, including a laboratory to make use of for necessary research.
“The creation of Alternate Medicine Board in the State has brought lots of development, while many Health Institutions and Colleges of Education that are interested in Alternate studies for practitioners and any interested citizens, within and outside the State have shown interest. The process is ongoing, as soon as it is completed with the signing of Memorandum Of Understanding, then the operation will commence immediately,” he said.
Responding, one of the members of the Elders Forum, Yeye Oba Abatan Oreagba, who appreciated the State government, commended the good leadership of the Board Chairman, pledging their support to work as a team.
Also speaking the Oluwo Ifa of Egbaland, Oluwo Anipupo, said effort put in place by the present administration in the state at ensuring that every citizen access quality affordable healthcare delivery across the state has gone a long way at saving more lives especially at the grassroots level, adding that with creation of the board that controls Alternate Medicine, government would start recording more success stories from the sector.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Adebayo Adedeji said, they are very grateful to the state government for approving Alternate Medicine practitioners Elders council to assist the board in their activities.
In her welcome address , the Board Registrar/ Secretary Dr. Kafayat Lawal, welcomed members of the Elders council of the practitioners, and said the board had scrutinized them carefully before appointing them into the Elders Forum members to work with the board based on their various experiences as veteran practitioners who will be using their experience to guide the board activities when necessary.