Dr. Sunny Olu, the Vice Coordinator of the Edo State Traditional Medicine Board (TMB) in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, has showered encomium on Governor Monday Okpebholo, for giving recognition to tradomedical practitioners in the state.
“I must thank our governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for recognizing the traditional medical practitioners in Edo State. For so long a time, before the coming of the Governor, we were not given any recognition,” he stated.
Dr. Olu, who specialised in healing of sicknesses like toothache and others, have been practicing for more than 45 years ago, got tutelage from his father (now late).
“I don’t want the knowledge that I got from my father to get lost in the midst of modernization hence my resolve to keep practicing,” he intoned.
Dr. Olu also gave kudos to the Chairman of the TMB, Abudu Ugbesia (JP), describing him as “a man imbued with wisdom who have been able to bring members together and ensure we enjoy the benefits of tradomedical practice.”
On the dangers posed by quackery, Dr. Olu said: “There are quacks going all about. Being licensed to practice is a sign of recognition. This recognition will open the way for us to be patronised by interested people including the government.”
Going down memory lane, Dr. Olu recalled, “back in the days there was no rampant issue of people getting sick and dying. All they needed to do then was to go into the nearest bush, cut some leaves and chew them to get relief. All that is no more obtainable because of the nature of food we now eat which is filled with ‘chemicals’.”
Diffentiating between orthodox medicine and traditional medicine, Dr. Olu asserted: “For instance, orthodox medical practice believes much in the extraction of the tooth when you have toothache while we, tradomedical practitioners, believe in removing the worms that cause the toothache.”
