The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the Ministry will continue to promote Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as a means of providing comprehensive healthcare for the vast rural population.

Ehanire said this while inaugurating Colour Energy Health Machines assembled by Luminar International College/Centre for Health and Alternative Medicines, in Awgu Enugu State.

The occasion was also used for appeal fund raising ceremony for the establishment of First Aid Alternative Medicine/Energy Health Science and Technology University and Specialist Teaching Hospital in Africa located in Awgu.

The Minister who was represented by the Senior Pharmacist in the Ministry, Mr. Christian Nnaji, noted that an estimated 80 per cent of the population living in rural areas are using traditional medicine and CAM as their first source of healthcare.

“The establishment of a full-fledged Department of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) in the Ministry provides opportunity for the rapid development and integration of TCAM into the healthcare delivery system which is seen as integrative medicine.

“Patients should be able to exercise their rights and have the choice to access their preferred healthcare services as seen in countries like China and India,” he said.

The Minister said that the government was willing to support researchers and stakeholders in the various fields of healthcare including CAM in ensuring access to good quality healthcare to all citizens of the country.

“Consequently, the ministry is planning a CAM Stakeholders Forum from November 27 to November 29.

“The event will feature Ministerial Press Briefing, symposium, there will be lectures by experts in the field of CAM, exhibition by the various specialists of CAM practitioners and provision of free CAM services as a means of increasing awareness on CAM.

“The overall goal of the forum is to harness the potentials of this group of health practitioners towards the improvement of healthcare delivery in the country,” Ehanire said.

In his address, the President of the Centre/College, Prof. Joseph Akpa, lauded both the Federal and Enugu State Governments for creating CAM departments in their health ministries, adding that it would assist in involving holistic healthcare for all.

“However, I am appealing to the minister of health to vigorously pursue the Ministerial Executive Bill on Complementary and Alternative Medicine now with the National House of Assembly for immediate passage,” Akpa said.

He thanked the department of CAM in the Federal Ministry of Health for its programmes to promote CAM integration into the nation’s healthcare system as well as setting up of the Ministerial Committee on CAM and organising of the CAM Week in the ministry.

Also speaking, traditional ruler of Ekpulambo Mgbowo Community, Igwe John Ibe, thanked the centre for the free medical care given to over 400 residents of his community and beyond.

Ibe lauded the various levels of governments for the recognition given to the centre; but called on them to assist the centre financial to grow in status for the benefits of the various forms of CAM healthcare to be achieved.

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