Medical Director of Ayo Herbal Health Ltd., Dr. Ezekiel Ayodeji Adesua-Ajayi, has stressed the need for Nigerians, government and banks to support herbal practitioners.
He said herbal medicine was good for health care delivery, as usage of synthetic and chemically produced drugs was gradually killing Nigerians.
According to him, our forefathers lived long because they used herbal medicine, saying herbal medicine cures all ailments if handled by right practitioners.
In this interview, he spoke on this and others.
How do you see the health sector in Nigeria?
The sector is moving forward. Thank God for the role of NAFDAC, which is always there to regulate it, where and when necessary. The involvement of herbal medicine is also helping out.
Why do you think our leaders go abroad for treatment when herbal medicine abounds in Nigeria?
It is unfortunate that we have ignored herbs, which nature has endowed us with in Nigeria. Our leaders have succumbed to western propaganda on superiority of orthodox medicine to ours. That is why they run overseas for treatment whenever they are ill, even with ailment that could be treated in Nigeria. They prefer to spend the money abroad, thereby negating the mantra of “made-in-Nigeria goods” by this present administration. Ordinarily, herbal medicine is the way of life. Man and nature go together.
The is no ailment herbal medicine can’t cure, depending on the practitioner involved. If you meet herbal medicine practitioners who have in-depth knowledge of herbs and their efficacies, you will agree with me that there is no ailment it cannot cure. Though, there are quacks in our midst, who claim to have knowledge of herbs, there are specialists and experts. As a practitioner, you must research from time to time, to know the functionalities of herb being used, with a view to delivering an efficient and effective health care to the people.
Usage of herbal drugs prolongs lives. That is why our forefathers were agile and lived long. My father is 100 years with 10 wives and still sexually active. Chemically and toxically produced drugs are gradually killing Nigerians, which is why I recommend herbal medicine.
What is your relationship with orthodox doctors?
Fine. They are cooperating with us now. They dispense our drugs in their hospitals. Our drugs are in hospitals and pharmaceutical stores all over the country. In fact, very soon we shall be exporting them. Orthodox doctors ignored our drugs initially, maybe for rivalry sake, but right now, with the approval of NAFDAC and the fact that some of them are now prescribing herbal medicines, having seen the potency in them, we are synergising effectively.
Why are sexually related diseases rampant in Nigeria?
It is unfortunate that sex meant to be enjoyed is now causing diseases to some people due to abuse, untreated STD and unprotected sex. Medical research revealed that there is no sleeping pill like good sex because it is medicinal on its own. But the rate at which sexually transmitted or related diseases is afflicting our generation today is alarming and its very endemic in Africa because of our low literacy rate and polygamous inclination. Why I say polygamous is that, though, majority of us are fast embracing monogamy, many people do so on the surface and still go out of their way to engage in clandestine extra-marital affairs and flings. People also are not adopting the right treatment and as such it spreads from one person to the other.
What are your challenges?
The major challenges we have are the uncooperative posture of financial institutions. Banks hardly advance loans to us, which makes it difficult for us to fund our production and as you know, cost of production is very high. Further more, the quacks in our midst are source of concern because they are creating credibility problems for us.
What advice will you give govt and Nigerians?
Patronage of herbal drugs, produced wholly in the country, could save the country some billions of dollars and will boost the economy. The government should partner with the herbal medicine practitioners to fashion out ways of assisting the sector to function better. If the sector is well-funded it could create employment for our teeming youths and save the country from restiveness.