Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

A herbal practitioner, Mr. Akintunde Ayeni, has called on the Federal Government to establish local botanical gardens all over the country for preservation of essential medicinal herbal plants.

Ayeni who is President, Yemkem Group, made the call while delivering a lecture to mark this year's Sustainable Gastronomy Day, organized by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, held at NUJ Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

While describing African traditional medicine as crucial in provision of health services to millions of people, he urged government at all levels in the country to establish necessary institutional centers and provide the appropriate financial support to promote the potential role of herbal medicine especially in the area of primary health care delivery.

He said, "Government should establish the necessary institutional and financial support to promote the potential role of herbal medicine in primary health care delivery. Priority should be giving to the development of herbal medicine by means of the following measures.

"Inventorying and documenting the various medicinal plants and herbs which are used to treat common diseases in each country.

"Establishing local botanical gardens for the preservation of essential medicinal herbal plants.

"Establishing a potent regulatory body for the practice of traditional medicine in Nigeria such a regulatory body should be named "Traditional Medicinal Council of Nigeria".

"Setting up testing laboratories with adequate facilities for the assessment of the efficacy of traditional medicinal herbs and establishing dosage norms for the most efficacious of herbal extracts whether in tablets, capsules, powdered, syrup or other form".