Development of Natural medicine as alternative medicine is fast gathering momentum as Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories Ltd, Ewu, Edo State opens a Natural Medicine Hospital and Pharmaco-Vigilance centre in Owerri, Imo State.
The ceremony which took place at the hospital site at No 91b Oyima Street, Owerri, paraded many dignatories especially from the health sector including medical doctors, Pharmacists, Pharmacognosists and Botanists, among whom are Prof. Joseph I. Okogun, head of Science and development in Pax Herbal, Pharmacist Victor Umame, NAFDAC director, Imo State, Pharmacist Dave Amonu etc. Other dignatories present were Mr. Paddy Obinna who was the chairman of the occasion, His Royal Highness, Eze Reginald A. Amadi, PRO Owerri Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief G.M. Anyanwu (KSM), Chief Camy Teteh, Nze Dr. Donald Agwaranze, many Rev. fathers and Rev. Sisters. Also in attendance were Pax herbal distributors from various parts of South East and South South, of Nigeria, and the Nnarambia cultural Association from Ahiazu – Mbaise. The master of ceremonies was Chief Joe Ehioma, a retiree of IBC Owerri.
In his welcome address, the Owerri Zonal co-ordinator, Pax Herbal clinic and Research laboratories Ltd, Ewu, Mr. Tony Ogulewe said that herbal medicine was regarded as the crudest form of alternative medicine known to Nigerians. He said that herbal medicine was embedded in the knowledge of a man dressed like a masquerade sitting inside a thatched mud hut, chanting incantations. But today, Pax has changed all these. He said that the mission of Pax Herbal is to demystify African Traditional Medicine, and purge it of elements of negative occultism, fetishism, and superstition, and promote its irrational use so as to make it a globally acceptable enterprise. He noted that Pax Herbal started with distribution of Pax Medicines through accredited distributors, but now they have developed into full fledged hospitals currently in Ewu, Edo State, Lagos, Jos and the latest, Owerri. He expressed optimism that before long, the various levels of government may wake up to the realities of herbal medicine treatment/ therapies as it is in the Western world today.
Mr. Tony Ogulewe said that the idea of opening Natural Medicine Hospitals and Pharmaco – Vigilance centres is to provide patients with consultancy services on their ailments, and to monitor them during treatment and after treatment with herbal medicines. He said it was also to help their distributors to attend to such cases that were before now cumbersome to them.
The Director of Pax Herbal clinic and Research laboratories, Rev. Fr. Anselm Adodo (OSB) represented by the head of science and development in Pax Prof. Joseph I. Okogun said that the organization was established in 1996 as a catholic Research Centre for Scientific identification, conservation, utilization and development of African medicinal plants. The director said that the body is one of the biggest, best organized and most modern herbal research centres in Africa.
Boasting that her computerized research and clinical laboratories are rated among the best in Africa. Fr. Adodo said Pax herbal is the organization with the highest number of NAFDAC approved products (over 32 products) and best manufacturing practice in the country.
The research team in Pax Herbal comprises renowned Pharmacist, Botanists, Microbiologists, Pharmacognosists, medical practioners, laboratory scientists and plant scientists. Fr. Adodo said that Pax Herbal is the only herbal manufacturing company left in the country that is locally producing its medicines despite the harsh economic climate which makes it easier and more profitable to an importer rather than a manufacturer.
The cutting of the tape was performed by the chairman of the occasion after the office was blessed by Rev. Fr. Tony Anyanwu
