AN APPRAISAL OF THE RELEVANCE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE TO THE NATIONAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper addressed the ambivalence of the community towards treatment options offered by traditional and modern medicine practitioners as well as the relevance of traditional medicine to the national health-care delivery system. Besides, the study conceptualized traditional medicine and traditional medical practice, examining the historical evolution of traditional medicine, the challenges faced by traditional medicine and the advantages of the practice to the national health-care delivery system. The paper, which advocated for the retention of traditional medicine due to the inability of modern medicine to cure all ailments, revealed that traditional medicine promotes “whole body wellness” through a balanced system approach; unlike modern medicine whose practitioners seem to have a penchant for surgical removal of body parts at the slightest opportunity. Finally, the research recommended that the government should ensure the recognition and registration of professionally qualified traditional medical doctors, while quacks should be encouraged to attend the required training that will enhance their proficiency and relevance to society. In addition, it is recommended that research and development in the field of African medicinal plants should be encouraged to advance the course of African traditional medicine.