By: Ighomuaye Lucky. O
In order to sustain the practice of alternative medicine in Nigeria, the Movement for the Actualization of FEDCAM, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue the Federal College of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM) from total collapse and restore its pride of place in the comity of health institutions in Nigeria.
The National Convener of Movement for the Actualization of FEDCAM, Dr. Adedamola Bank Kadejo, gave the urge in a statement issued at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting.
Other stakeholders include, Chiropractic and Osteopathic Practitioners of Nigeria, Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Acupuncture Society of Nigeria, Homeopathic Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria, Unani Medicine Practitioners of Nigeria and Nigerian Indigenous Medicine Practitioners.
They frowned at a recent threat of withdrawal of budgetary allocation to the Institution by the chairman on Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), Sen. Banibo Ipalibo, over alleged non-productivity.
“We are a concerned pressure and advocacy group interested in the welfare and sustenance of the Federal College of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM).
“We acknowledge that FEDCAM which has been under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health, has suffered total neglect and abandonment over the years and has not functioned or served the purpose for which it was established.
“We are however alarmed at the threat of possible withdrawal of budgetary allocation to the Institution by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) over alleged non-productivity, following visit of the Chairperson of the Committee, Sen. Banibo Ipalibo and her members, to the College in Abuja.
“In as much as we frown at the redundancy of this critical health Institution, we, however, express grave concern over this threat of withdrawal of budgetary allocation, which, if implemented, will hinder it from serving its useful purposes.
“Having met to consider the implications of the threat and possible ways to avert it and move the Institution forward, we, the critical stakeholders of this have resolved as follows:
“Since FEDCAM has suffered so much neglect and redundancy under the Federal Ministry of Health over the years, we humbly suggest that FEDCAM as an institution, be moved to the Federal Ministry of Education; elevated to an OND and HND-awarding Institution under the oversight of the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).”
As a way forward, the group pledged to provide a befitting building and structure in Abuja for the take-off of the College and Campuses in the six geo-political regions of Nigeria.
“We, therefore, call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Senate President, the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, the Honourable Minister of Health and the Honourable Minister of Education, to use their good offices to ensure the resuscitation and sustenance of FEDCAM henceforth,” Kadejo said.