Addressing the issue of unscrupulous individuals posing as legitimate traditional medicine practitioners, the Imo State government and the National Association of Traditional Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria (NANTMP) have joined forces to root out these impostors tarnishing the image of the Association.
The Association’s initiative aims to eliminate fake traditional medicine practices within the state.
State Chairman Chief John Amarachukwu Nwaike announced the Association’s stance during the inauguration of the Association’s LGA Chapters.
During the inauguration, the State Chairman urged members to engage in upcoming verification activities, cautioning fake practitioners to exit the field for their own benefit.
A task force is being established by the association to collaborate with the State Government and law enforcement agencies in pursuing quacks.
Nwaike highlighted the negative impact that quacks have had on the association’s reputation due to their unethical practices, urging all practitioners in the state to seek guidance from NANTMP’s secretariat.
At the inauguration event, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Prof. Emeka Ubaka, represented by Dr. A.C. OKeji, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, expressed concern over the rise of illicit drug peddlers and urged robust screening of aspiring practitioners across the 27 LGAs in the State.
Prof. Ubaka acknowledged the historical significance of Traditional Medicine in the region, emphasizing its precedence over orthodox medicine.
He praised the State chapter’s leadership for organizing programmes to inaugurate Local Council chapters, aligning with the State Government’s goal of enhancing healthcare delivery and accessibility.
The Commissioner instructed local officers to operate within legal boundaries and assured continued support from the State Government.
Chief Linus Ogunka, the Southeast Director at the national level, lauded Imo State’s association leadership for their accomplishments and described the LGA officers’ inauguration as a positive step forward.
Ogunka urged the newly appointed officers to uphold discipline and adhere strictly to regulations while carrying out their duties.