Integrating Traditional Medicine with Western Medicine
Name: Anthony OLUSOLA
Course Title: Medical Anthropology
Topic: Traditional and Bio-Medical Practice: Integrating traditional and modern systems in the Nigerian health care delivery.
Research Question:
To what extent, if any, has traditional medicine in comparison to Bio-Medical practice, been incorporated to the health care delivery systems in Nigeria and how much promotion is given to the significance and efficacy of the practice of traditional medicine in curing same illness?
Abstract:
The practice of traditional medicine among the people of Nigeria in the Western region of Africa transcends the advent of Bio-Medicine and occupies a prominent position in the delivery of health care. Majority of the rural dwellers as well as substantial proportion of the urban dwellers rely on traditional medicine for solutions to illness and healing. A significant number of Nigerians living abroad rely strongly on the efficacy of traditional herbs for medical treatment, regardless of their level of education and cost of transporting such herbal medicine to their country of residence. However, several successive governments in Nigeria have continued to neglect the indigenous health care methods in their health policy.
This paper examines the relevance of traditional medicine and its contributions to health care delivery systems in Nigeria, and the rate at which people opt for alternative medical interventions as brought about by the inaccessibility of modern medicine as well as the financial implications. Against these backdrops, this paper proposes considerable recognition for traditional medical practice and its possible integration into the nation’s health care delivery system.
Medical system in Nigeria: An examination
Whereas health is the most precious of all things and it is the foundation of all happiness, traditional medicine, in response to the health needs of the people, developed as an integral part of the
Course Title: Medical Anthropology
Topic: Traditional and Bio-Medical Practice: Integrating traditional and modern systems in the Nigerian health care delivery.
Research Question:
To what extent, if any, has traditional medicine in comparison to Bio-Medical practice, been incorporated to the health care delivery systems in Nigeria and how much promotion is given to the significance and efficacy of the practice of traditional medicine in curing same illness?
Abstract:
The practice of traditional medicine among the people of Nigeria in the Western region of Africa transcends the advent of Bio-Medicine and occupies a prominent position in the delivery of health care. Majority of the rural dwellers as well as substantial proportion of the urban dwellers rely on traditional medicine for solutions to illness and healing. A significant number of Nigerians living abroad rely strongly on the efficacy of traditional herbs for medical treatment, regardless of their level of education and cost of transporting such herbal medicine to their country of residence. However, several successive governments in Nigeria have continued to neglect the indigenous health care methods in their health policy.
This paper examines the relevance of traditional medicine and its contributions to health care delivery systems in Nigeria, and the rate at which people opt for alternative medical interventions as brought about by the inaccessibility of modern medicine as well as the financial implications. Against these backdrops, this paper proposes considerable recognition for traditional medical practice and its possible integration into the nation’s health care delivery system.
Medical system in Nigeria: An examination
Whereas health is the most precious of all things and it is the foundation of all happiness, traditional medicine, in response to the health needs of the people, developed as an integral part of the