By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
Senate has passed for second reading, a bill for an act to establish the College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, just as it recommended a take-off grant of N3.9 billion that would cover consultancy, capital costs, personnel emoluments, and cost of specialised training for staff, amongst others.
Leading debate on the bill, its sponsor, Senator Clever Ikisikpo, said the bill 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.
The lawmaker said ensuring legislative backing for the college would ultimately complement federal government’s efforts at encouraging alternative medicine practice which had already been embraced by medical practitioners in most Europe, Asian and African countries.
He said: “Complimentary and Alternative Medicine is the branch of medicine whose philosophy is grounded in the enhancement of the body’s 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.”
He assured that the institution was capable of increasing life expectancy in Nigeria from 45 to
