A bill for an act to establish the College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria, passed second reading in the senate on Thursday.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Clever Ikisipo (Bayelsa East) recommended a take-off grant of N3.9bn that will cover consultancy, capital costs, personnel emoluments, and cost of specialized training for staff, among others.

Presenting the lead debate on the floor of the senate, Ikisipo noted that the bill was aimed at providing constitutional backing for the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, created as an agency under the Federal Ministry of Health in 2007.

He explained that ensuring legislative backing for the college would ultimately complement federal governments efforts at encouraging alternative medicine practice which had already been embraced by medical practitioners in most Europe, Asian and African countries.

The college he said was saddled with the responsibility of training and retraining alternative medicine practitioners in the health care delivery services.

He also said the institution will carry out clinical and research as well as provide an alternative method of treating ailments.

The senator said, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine is the branch of medicine whose philosophy is grounded in the enhancement of the bodys own healing power through the use of natural means.

This branch of medicine is coming to the forefront of health care in most Asian countries, African countries, European countries and America today, thus having the effect of a healthier and stronger society and enhancing our very valuable human resources.

Since its establishment in 2007, he said the college had done research into various remedies that can cure major diseases like cancer, cholera, VVF, as well as advanced management and cure of HIV/AIDS.

Ikisipo however, regretted that the college had been producing remedies for ailments over the years without the proper legislative framework necessary for its development and progress.

Read more:

Senate okays establishment of alternative medicine college