He indicated that the beneficiaries, who hail from Oyo, Kano, and various other states, will also include traditional birth attendants, who will receive grants aimed at ensuring sustainability.
“Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) play a crucial role in the social, cultural, and religious dynamics of many rural communities in Nigeria.
“The goals of the current program are to empower TBAs and utilize a culturally tailored audio-visual workshop intervention to enhance their knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to promote immunization. Additionally, it will address the intricacies of incubation processes, as well as the production and packaging of herbal medicines,” Babalola stated.
He further emphasized the importance of providing incubator mechanisms for the production and packaging of traditional medicines.
It is worth noting that UNFIA recently reaffirmed its commitment to establishing the UNFIA African Traditional Medicine Practitioners Center in Nigeria during a conference organized by the SouthWest chapter of the NANTMP in collaboration with UNFIA in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
During the conference, the UNFIA committed to collaborating closely with Nigerian authorities to establish guidelines, standards, and safeguards for traditional medicine practices. They stated, “Our goal is to promote the integration of traditional medicine into public health programs, national insurance schemes, and community health initiatives.
“Furthermore, we aim to safeguard the intellectual property rights of traditional practitioners and indigenous communities, ensuring that their knowledge is honored and protected from exploitation. By championing robust policies, we can develop a sustainable framework that enables traditional medicine to flourish.”