By Anastasia Agunwa/Chizoba Okeke/Gloria Abugu :
A Bill for a Law to establish the Anambra State Herbal Practice Regulation Agency and for other related matters has passed through its second reading on the floor of the State Legislature.
This followed the motion moved by the sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Tony Muobike representing Aguata 11 constituency and seconded by the member representing Anaocha 11 constiuency, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu during plenary on August 13.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze who presided over the plenary had moved for the Bill to be read a second time while the lawmakers unanimously adopted it through voice votes.
Speaking on the Bill, Hon. Tony Muobike said that the Bill is for a Law to regulate and sanitise the herbal practice and manufacturing industries in Anambra state.
He averred that the Bill if passed into law would provide a legal framework to harmonize the practices of herbal medicine production, manufacturing, labelling and delivery.
Muobike added that it would give the State government the legal framework to prosecute people who are practicing this noble profession without actually being herbalists themselves.
According to him, we all know the crimentous state of herbal practice, manufacturing, labelling, practice and delivery in Anambra state.
“Currently, there is no law exhaustibly monitor and regulate herbal practice in Anambra state.
“And herbal practice, Mr. Speaker is an integral part of medical delivery in Anambra state, apart and outside of the conventional medical practice, that is, the hospital.
“The situation is made worst by the fact that brings about concoctions that manufacturers bring in Anambra state and nation at large does not actually tell people the exact things; the chemical content and quantities.
“What it means is that people are forced to drink these concoctions and believe whatever the herbalists tell them. There is no code of conduct, there is no platform to regulate this industry.
“Mr. Speaker, it doesn’t mean that the government is not aware of this situation, but if there is no legal platform for the government’s use to regulate the practice, in form of a law, then the hands of government becomes tied.
“Because even if you arrest someone who purportedly brings concoctions for people to drink, without any form of regulation, you don’t have any legal framework, nor document to prosecute that person.
“The consequence of this situation is that our people are forced to pay heavily with their lives. We know that today, incidences of organs damages is on the increase. Even children today are being diagnosed of kidney damages, kidney failure, liver failure, amongst others.
“Mr. Speaker, this Bill is intended to provide a legal framework to harmonize the practices of herbal medicine production, manufacturing, labelling and delivery.
“It is meant to bring together herbal practitioners under a very standard and regulated platform.
“It is meant to give the State government the legal framework to prosecute people who are practicing this noble profession without actually being herbalists themselves.
“It provides a framework for our people to also have a data to know who and who are herbal practitioners in order to know who to go to or not go to.
“It also provides an avenue to create research and training in this very important area of health delivery to ensure that our people are really getting good healthcare and not getting something that will cause fatality”, Muobike stressed.
Speaking in favour of the Bill, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu representing Anaocha 11 constiuency, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme representing Ekwusigo constituency, Hon. Golden Iloh representing Ihiala 11, Hon. Noble Igwe representing Ogbaru 1, Hon. Ibemeka Chidiebere representing Njikoka 1, Hon. Emmanuel Nwafor representing Orumba South and Hon. Jude Akpua representing Njikoka 11 decried the high rate of organ and kidney failures in the country.
The Lawmakers who described the Bill as very important said that if passed into Law, assent to and the agency set up, it would guide those herbal practitioners to determine dosage of any herbal medicine manufactured for use.
They added that it would help to ensure health safety for Ndi Anambra as well as help to promote businesses, noting that it will enable government to discipline erring practitioners.
The Speaker referred the Bill to the joint Committee on Judiciary and the Health Committee to handle and report back to the House in the next two weeks.
Anastasia, Chizoba and Gloria are of the State Ministry of Information, Awka.
