By Asma’u Ahmad
The Nigeria’s Federal Government on Thursday urged community based medicinal plant stakeholders to proffer solutions to the treatment of cancer.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the call in Abuja at a stakeholders meeting on community-based medicinal plant research project for the treatment of cancer.
Dr Osagie Ehanire
Ehanire, represented by the Director, Human Resource Management in the ministry, Mr Halad Keana, said the conference was aimed at having an interface with stakeholders on community-based medicinal plant.
He noted that the project, which was in collaboration with the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM), would investigate the available indigenous package of forest products used for the treatment of cancer.
Mrs Oluwakemi Osunderu, Head, Research and Development, FEDCAM, said cancer was increasingly becoming a scourge in the country.
Osunderu said the need for the government to get involved and properly harness the country’s forest resources in promoting the health and well-being of Nigerians had become imperative.
She stressed the urgent need for the government to recognise and formulate policies that would maximise the medicinal properties of forest products.
