On March 8, 2024, the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) launched four herbal oral solid dosage formulations, which was a big accomplishment and a first for Nigeria’s health system. This was the first time the agency had created solid oral dosage forms, such as capsules and granules of nanoparticles, in almost thirty years. The four items were created to address important health concerns in Nigeria, such as aging, diabetes, and sickle cell disease. The formulations used native medicinal plants and contemporary science to generate novel therapies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization worked to create herbal remedies for respiratory tract infections and COVID-19 utilizing medicinal plants that were gathered locally. The manufacturer, who is a traditional healer as well as a scientist, highlights the importance of fusing traditional knowledge with contemporary science. Misconceptions about money, unused equipment, and a shortage of qualified researchers were among the difficulties encountered. By actively working in labs, making the most of the resources at hand, and forming alliances with academic institutions to develop human potential, the producer took action to solve these problems.
Commercialization of these natural items could strengthen the local econ.
Training conventional medical practitioners, creating medicinal gardens in nearby communities, and improving researcher qualifications are among the agency’s top aims. By generating jobs and addressing local health needs, the commercialization of these natural items could strengthen the local economy. The growing and processing of therapeutic plants has the potential to boost the Economy overall and create jobs. Nigeria has a number of serious health issues, such as high rates of sickle cell disease and a fast rising Diabetes prevalence.
At over 150,000 births per year and an estimated 4 million Nigerians living with the disease, Nigeria has the highest incidence of sickle cell disease in the world. Treatments that are both creative and accessible are crucial because this severely strains families and the healthcare system. Comparably, in Nigeria, where 11.2 million adults suffer from diabetes, the disease is on the rise mostly as a result of dietary changes and altered lifestyles. According to projections, if efficient management techniques are not put into place, this number may increase substantially.
There are questions on the safety and effectiveness of herbal formulations.
Furthermore, the organization created Herbal Medicines that combine conventional wisdom with cutting-edge scientific techniques to address various health issues. The sickle cell product, for example, blends several herbs with blood-building, anti-malarial, and anti-sickling qualities. Patient testimonials have shown notable advancements. The indigenous plant “abiri,” which was discovered through conversations with traditional healers, including the Oba of Lagos, is the basis of the herbal preparation for diabetes known as Abirysin. The organization has big goals for the future, like creating new formulations to combat hypertension, a serious health problem that affects 30% of adults in Nigeria, and creating a herbal remedy for arthritis, which is often brought on by physical labour and is particularly common in peasant farming.
Another strategic goal is to create jobs, promote local health solutions, and increase the availability of high-quality herbal goods by establishing medicinal gardens in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. But Traditional Medicine is sometimes seen with mistrust, especially by people who were trained in Western medical traditions, who could consider it to be hazardous or unscientific. There are questions regarding the safety and effectiveness of herbal formulations because their detractors claim they lack the rigorous clinical testing and standardization of conventional medications. The organization is dedicated to strict scientific review and quality control procedures in order to respond to these concerns.
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Every herbal product is put through extensive clinical trials, laboratory testing, and NAFDAC registration to make sure it satisfies safety and efficacy requirements that are matched by pharmaceuticals. It is possible to utilize indigenous knowledge while upholding contemporary medical norms when traditional medicine is combined with scientific validation. By ensuring that traditional treatments are both conserved and modified to meet modern health demands, the organization hopes to keep bridging this divide. The organization hopes to create a more inclusive healthcare system that honours Cultural Heritage and improves patient outcomes by bolstering traditional practices with scientific research and technological innovations.