Abuja: Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), has been appointed as a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM). He joins 19 other experts from around the globe in this role.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Emeje was also appointed as a Co-Chair by the group members at the recently concluded WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi, India. The establishment of the group signifies a significant step towards implementing the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034.
Emeje expressed his intent to ensure that Nigeria and other African countries align with global standards in traditional medicine. He described his appointment as a major honor and a recognition of the hard work invested in Nigeria’s traditional medicine ecosystem. He also noted the Federal Government’s increasing attention to the sector.
Reflecting on recent developments, Emeje highlighted the Nigerian House of Representatives’ resolution to prioritize natural medicine and President Bola Tinubu’s call for African leaders to focus on local research as solutions to continental challenges.
Emeje emphasized the importance of addressing the diverse controversies surrounding traditional medicine, such as cultural and research differences, as well as commercial interests. The STAG-TM aims to address these challenges by bringing together experts from various regions to provide unbiased guidance.
Alongside Prof. Susan Wieland, Director of Cochrane Complementary Medicine, USA, Emeje was selected as Co-chair due to their leadership in advancing evidence-based traditional medicine research. Emeje urged collaboration among African countries to enhance the continent’s traditional medicine sector.
Members of the STAG-TM will serve two-year terms, focusing on areas such as evidence generation, regulation, integration, and collaboration. The group will advise the WHO on global traditional medicine directions and aid in integrating traditional and complementary medicine into health systems.
Additionally, the group will offer technical and scientific support to the WHO, shaping the research agenda for traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine to ensure its proper use.