Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), said it has produced four medicines in appropriate dosage forms, in its drive to promote the use of herbal medicines.
Director-general of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the four medications were part of activities carried out by the agency in the last one year.
He said the agency converted natural foods and herbs indigenous to Nigeria to drugs to treat sickle cell, diabetes and slow aging process, adding that the products, which are organic in nature, were launched on March 8.
He explained that “the medicines are Aberecin, used in the management of Diabetes Mellitus and Namdasan for the management of sickle cell disorder, which is a huge issue in the black population of the world and Nigeria is home to more than four million sufferers.
“We have that product containing at least eight different plants indigenous to Nigeria”, he added.
The DG also said that the first herbal nano-product in Africa called Nanobere was also developed by the agency, and used in the treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections.
He added that an anti-aging agent called Namdamune was developed by harnessing natural plants and herbs that do revitalisation, build the immune system and is responsible for slowing aging process.
He said “we got all these done in one year and it is not just about health, the significance of this is that Nigeria can develop its own products locally and manufacture locally, and that is medicine security.
“It means that the life of your people is in the hands of your people because the greatest disservice you can do to yourself is to have your own life in the hands of another person.”
He also said that the production of the herbal medicines resulted to job and wealth creation.
