Adigwe advocates prioritisation of research, devt of African Traditional Medicines

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Director General, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe has advocated prioritisation of research and development of African Traditional Medicines.
Adigwe, stated this yesterday, to commemorate the African Traditional Medicine Day.
He said the choice of this year’s theme “Traditional Medicine: Research and Development” could not have been better articulated, given the hitherto neglected potential for health and socioeconomic development for the continent.
He said NIPRD is the most resourced Institute of its kind with over 70 Masters and PhDs aggregated around various aspects of phytomedicines’ development value chain. “The Institute also remains the first African Institute to develop a world class phytomedicine from drug discovery up to phase 2 clinical trials.”
He argued that this illustrated the immense expertise and experience that existed at NIPRD with respect to Research and Development for African Traditional Medicines.
Peoples Daily recalls that the agency during the current pandemic, galvanised significant expertise into making a huge contribution to the National and global response, and a significant proportion of this contribution is focused on African Traditional Medicines.
The Institute provided the internationally acclaimed analysis that underpinned Government’s categorical position on the Madagascar Covid Organics preparation.
This analysis went viral internationally, with scientists and policymakers around the world referencing NIPRD’s seminal work on the product.