Abuja: The World Health Organisation (WHO) and stakeholders in Nigerian natural medicine have called for stronger regulation, better documentation, and the integration of traditional medicine into the country’s healthcare system to improve safety, quality, and access to care. The call was made during the 2026 African Traditional Medicine Day celebration in Lagos on Monday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘Reflection of Research and Development Efforts of Traditional Medicine Toward Achieving Universal Health Coverage in the African Region’, highlighted the need for closer collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners and conventional medical professionals. Dr Kim Sungchol, Head of WHO’s Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) Unit, emphasized Nigeria’s rich heritage in traditional medicine and its potential to enhance the health and well-being of its citizens. He noted that traditional medicine is widely recognized and used globally, with many WHO member s
tates acknowledging its prevalence.
Dr Sungchol disclosed that WHO had adopted the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, which aims to promote traditional medicine through evidence-based approaches, stronger regulatory mechanisms, and its integration into national health systems. The strategy provides guidance for governments, researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders on maximizing the benefits of traditional medicine, while ensuring services and products meet safety and quality standards.
Sungchol stressed the importance of African Traditional Medicine Day as a platform for implementing the global strategy on the continent. He urged stakeholders to work collaboratively to generate evidence on traditional medicine and establish pathways for integrating appropriate services into national healthcare systems. In Nigeria, he emphasized the urgent need to document traditional medicine practices and the herbal medicines used by local communities to assess their quality and safety.
Furthermore, Sungc
hol recommended capacity-building programs for traditional medicine practitioners, particularly in infection prevention and control. He advocated for combining biomedical training with traditional medicine practice to enhance practitioners’ capacity and address patient safety concerns. He also called for clear government policies and regulatory mechanisms for traditional medicine products and practitioners, suggesting Nigeria should establish or strengthen licensing mechanisms to ensure practitioners meet defined standards.
Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), highlighted the significance of Nigeria hosting a WHO traditional medicine specialist, recognizing the country’s vital role in Africa and its long-standing traditional medicine practices. He advocated for cooperation between traditional and conventional medical practitioners, emphasizing that both systems should complement each other to better address the country’s healthcare needs. Emeje str
essed that the priority should be patient well-being, not rivalry between the two systems, and called for evidence to support the safety and effectiveness of traditional treatments.
Reacting to Sungchol’s presentation, Prof. Emeje described his recommendations as a ‘blueprint’ for strengthening traditional medicine in Nigeria, particularly emphasizing documentation as a crucial starting point. He expressed gratitude to the WHO specialist for providing practical recommendations to guide the development and regulation of traditional medicine in the country.