Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has unveiled a series of traditional medicines made from local herbs which, he said, will enhance the human immune system against infectious diseases, including the dreaded COVID-19.
He says it was a proven fact established by the World Health Organisation that Africa has the best herbs which can be used for vaccine production, and pondered why countries in Africa imported medicines and other medical consumables from developed nations.
At the launch of the news products on Thursday, at the Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the monarch said, “We are not doing this in isolation and I am happy to inform you that the National Assembly is currently working on a bill submitted by the Federal Executive Council. The bill has passed through several legislative procedures and shall be passed into law very soon”.
The products were launched under the aegis of Herbal Remedies which has the Ooni as the Chairman, in partnership with a traditionalist and chief executive officer of Yemkem International Limited, Dr. Akintunde Ayeni.
The Ooni said a foundation has been launched for indigenous research-based initiatives on traditional medicine. “I am very honoured to be in partnership with Yemkem International, which has been in the industry for the past 40 years.
“He owns the largest herbal medicine production plant in Nigeria, and we have been on this for over one year during which we have worked with various stakeholders in the health sector, including the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
“To the glory of God, NAFDAC gave us all the approvals last September but I insisted that the products be packaged properly. To the glory of God, these products have been tested, especially on thousands of COVID-19 patients, including some in positions of authority who are currently free from the pandemic”.
Oba Adeyeye said the project would create an opportunity for the engagement of over 100,000 youths in the next fifteen months.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation, Afolabi Imoukhuede, in a goodwill message, commended the monarch on the innovation. He said, “If you study the value chain associated with this innovation right from the cultivation of herbs, production, packaging and distribution, it is obvious that many jobs will be created and countless doors of opportunities opened for our youths”.
Director of Public Health, Osun State Ministry of Health, Gbenga Adepoju, who represented the Commissioner for Health, pledged the government’s support for the products, noting that the country had what it would take to solve her problems. He said the Ooni’s effort in the development of a vaccine against COVID-19 was a boost to the government’s effort.
Jimoh Abubakar, who represented the Director-General of NAFDAC, applauded Ooni’s determination towards ensuring the provision of qualitative health for the citizenry.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) which was represented at the launch by Gideon Amosun, expressed the agency’s support for the innovation.
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