Gombe Deputy Gov tasks PSN on research towards authenticating potency, dosage of herbal medicine
… also begs them to invite investors to Gombe.
…as Gombe hosts PSN Conference tagged” PSN Jewel 2023″
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, has challenged the members of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria on the need for more research towards authenticating herbal medicine in order to improve on drug potency, quality, usage, dosage and efficiency.
Jatau who was speaking when he received the National President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in his office said, improving on quality and availability of drugs using available herbal products would reduce the huge resources expended on medical tourism.
The Deputy Governor noted with emphasis the need for the pharmacists to join hands with practitioners of herbal medicine with a view to coming up with (National Agency for Food and Drugs Law Administration and Control NAFDAC) approved drugs in line with standard medical practices .
“Herbal drugs have been used before the coming of orthodox medicine.i challenged you to do more research on the potency drugs from herbs and insects, etc that are used by the herbal medicine practitioners with special emphasis on dosage to be administered. This will save us the money we are using on importing pharmaceutical products and together we can put heads together to reduce money spent on medical tourism.
“It was reported that about one billion US Dollars, which is enough to set up Pharmaceutical Centres in each subregion, is used to sponsor medical tourism in China, india, etc in most cases people eventually die,” he said.
He called on the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to use their conference and invite investors to Gombe State to come and take advantage of the available natural endowment, the political will of the Government and the industrial park which is aimed at encouraging investors to come and invest in the state for boosting of commercial activities.
Jatau said, “Think of establishing a Pharmaceutical Company to complement government’s efforts in providing healthcare services. We have a positive political will that encourages investment. We have earmarked a 1000 hectares piece of land for the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadinkowa, Yamaltu-Deba LGA with provision for water, power which are major components of manufacturing. Help us invite investors to Gombe State.”
He explained that, their administration attaches so much interest and priority to health, because of its importance.” Our Administration places health as it’s first priority. When health is absent, education will be absent, economy will be absent, everything will be absent.
” We have functional health clinics in all our 114 wards in the state to provide primary health services to the people. We are upgrading our college of nursing that will admit about 600 students at a time, and we have secured an accreditation to award Bsc Nursing all in an effort to provide best medical services to people in the state,” he added.
Briefing the Deputy Governor on their mission to Gombe State, the National President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Prof. Cyril Usifoh, said they were in the state to tour facilities and meet with government officials preparatory to their National conference slated for 30th October to 4th November, this year.
“We have come in respect of our national conference, coming up on 30th- 04th November, 2033. It is a week long activity expected to host over 2500 participants from within and outside the Nigeria. It is going to be very eventful.
” During the Program, we intend to have a breakfast or lunch with captains of industry, Government Officials and investors, and would also visit the industrial park in an effort to attract investors to the state,” he said.
He said for the Deputy Governor to receive them is an indication that they have the blessings of the government to support the conference.
He explained that the pharmacists will always support the Government especially on drug abuse and other related issues affecting the health of the people.
The Permanent Secretary Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Bala Mohammed Kaltungo and Director Administration and Finance were in attendance.
Wilson Jonah Yakubu
Press Secretary/ Information Officer,
Deputy Governor’s Office.
