reconciliation to tackle prevalent cases of internal conflicts in the
country.
National President, National Complementary and Alternative Medical
Association (NACAMA) Prof. Peter Katchy, made the call in Onitsha on
Thursday at the Annual General Meeting/Conference of the association.
He said the call followed cases of herdsmen/farmers conflicts, youth
restiveness, hate speeches and religious intolerances in most part of
the country.
He described the establishment of such ministry with sufficient
budgetary provisions as first step to enthrone peace and unity among the
citizenry as well as to secure Nigeria’s future.
“It has become pertinent to call on Federal and state governments to
embark on the reconciliation of Nigerians to keep the country united and
secure.
“The ministry will cause peace and national cohesion which is better
than tough talks and military deployments,” he said.
Katchy, who doubles as Anambra state chairman, Nigerian Red Cross
Society, also canvassed for provision of skills trainings and
empowerment for youths to mitigate the increasing rate of unemployment
in the country.
Speaking on complementary and alternative medicine, he said alternative
medicine had become the forefront for the realisation of improved,
available and effective healthcare delivery system.
“A lot of successes have been achieved through complementary and
alternative medicine in the treatment of cancers, renal calculi,
hemorrhoid, ocular and eye affections, leg ulcers, teeth/gum infections,
bone and bone marrow diseases.
“These successes were achieved without surgical applications, epilepsy,
locomotor antaxia, nervous agitations and nervous diseases,” he added.
He urged members to sustain focus on capacity building in medical
innovations, researches, drug proving and newer approaches for
accelerated management of medical matters.
Earlier, Secretary, Board of Registered Trustees, NACAMA, Dr Ayodele
Akindipe lauded members of the association for the feat achieved so far.
He called for the maintenance of ethical standards of practice, members’
welfare, compassionate service, integrity and decorum as well as
professionalism and excellence among members in the discharge of their
duties.
The event, themed, “Consolidating CAM Practice in Nigeria”, witnessed
presentation of awards of Pillar of the Association to five persons
including Dr Emmanuel Onah, Director of Medical Services, Enugu.
Other recipients were Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of
Nigeria, Dr Umede Idris, Dr Ayodele Akindipe, Mr Augustina Ekweozor, a
lawyer and Dr Henry Okafor, a businessman