Lagos works to include traditional medicine

Summary

In Lagos, traditional medicine thrives alongside modern healthcare, with practitioners like Hagy Po providing effective orthopedic therapy despite lacking formal medical degrees. Patients favor these healers for their affordability and accessibility, often sharing distrust in conventional methods after negative experiences. The Lagos alternative medicine board is working to professionalize traditional practices through training and licensing, promoting collaboration with conventional doctors. Additionally, efforts are underway to establish a botanical center for research on local medicinal plants, aiming to provide homegrown solutions for diseases like malaria. Traditional medicine's enduring presence underscores its vital role in the healthcare landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 Traditional healers in Lagos have been using their methods for over 20 years without formal medical degrees, relying on ancestral knowledge.
• 😀 Despite the lack of scientific backing, many patients prefer traditional medicine for its accessibility, affordability, and non-invasive nature.
• 😀 Traditional medicine practitioners, like bone setters, are licensed and regulated by the Lagos alternative medicine board.
• 😀 Patients report quicker recovery times with traditional methods, with claims of walking within six weeks of a fracture.
• 😀 Critics argue that traditional medicine lacks scientific evidence and can be confused with witchcraft.
• 😀 The Lagos alternative medicine board aims to bridge the gap between conventional medicine and traditional practices through training and licensing.
• 😀 The board's training includes courses on anatomy, nutrition, and basic medical techniques for practitioners.
• 😀 Efforts are underway to foster collaboration between traditional healers and conventional doctors to improve healthcare access.
• 😀 Lagos plans to establish a Botanical center to research local medicinal plants and develop affordable treatments for diseases like malaria.
• 😀 Traditional medicine practices are expected to continue alongside modern medicine, highlighting their cultural significance.

Q & A

Who is Hagy Poe and what is his background in traditional medicine?

Hagy Poe is a traditional orthopedic healer in Lagos who has been practicing for over 20 years. He learned his methods from his father, who was also a healer, and is recognized by the state despite not having a formal medical degree.

What are the perceived advantages of traditional medicine according to patients?

Patients find traditional healers to be more available, affordable, and less invasive compared to conventional medical practitioners. They express greater confidence in traditional methods.

What criticism do traditional medicine practitioners face?

Critics argue that traditional medicine lacks scientific research and evidence, and some equate it with witchcraft, raising concerns about its legitimacy and effectiveness.

What steps is the Lagos Alternative Medicine Board taking to improve traditional medicine practices?

The Lagos Alternative Medicine Board is licensing, monitoring, and training traditional healers. They have implemented a 6E course that covers anatomy, nutrition, and basic medical techniques as a prerequisite for licensing.

What is the role of the chairman of the Lagos Alternative Medicine Board?

The chairman, a medical doctor, emphasizes the importance of collaboration between conventional doctors and traditional healers to enhance healthcare delivery in Lagos.

How does the healthcare provider-to-patient ratio in Lagos affect medical treatment options?

Lagos has a low ratio of 30 doctors to 100,000 patients, leading many to seek traditional medical options due to limited access to conventional care.

What initiatives is the Lagos government pursuing to support traditional medicine?

The Lagos government is planning to establish a botanical center for research on herbal medicine and aims to set up a hospital that integrates traditional healers with physicians.

What endemic diseases is Lagos hoping to address through traditional medicine research?

Lagos aims to find homegrown solutions for endemic diseases such as malaria by utilizing its wealth of medicinal plants through research.

What do traditional practitioners hope to achieve by lobbying for a hospital?

Traditional practitioners are advocating for a hospital where they can work alongside conventional physicians, promoting an integrated approach to healthcare.

Why is traditional medicine considered to be 'here to stay' in Lagos?

Given the long-standing cultural practices and the current challenges in the healthcare system, traditional medicine remains a vital component of healthcare in Lagos, as it addresses the needs of many patients effectively.