Enugu- The Enugu State Government, on Saturday, said it would partner with the National Complementary and Alternative Medical Association (NACAMA) to improve healthcare delivery to the citizenry.
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stated this in Enugu while declaring close a three-day conference organised by the State Ministry of Health in conjunction with NACAMA for alternative medical practitioners in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that theme of the conference was: “Consolidating Alternative Medicine in Enugu State. “
Represented by Dr Sam Ugwu, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Ugwuanyi said that the government would incorporate NACAMA members in its health and training programmes.
He urged alternative medical practitioners in the state to register and be listed with the ministry, so as to legalise their operations.
“Practitioners should not indulge in advertising their services in print or electronic media; alternative medical practitioners should not carry out surgery.
“Any practitioner who feels he or she is qualified should present himself or herself to the ministry and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for vetting before embarking on such action, “ he said.
Earlier, the National President of NACAMA, Prof. Peter Katchy, appealed to federal and state governments to include its members in the state rapid response and medical rescue missions.
Katchy said that members of the association have potent drugs that could help in the treatment of communicable diseases like cholera, gastro-enteritis and Lassa fever.
“NACAMA should also be involved in all medical rescue missions in any part of the country to bring alternatives where conventional medicines had failed, “ he said.