By Ekene Okafor
The Anambra State Government has clarified its stance on the practice of herbal medicine, native doctors, and ezenwanyi in the state. The Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Godwin Nnadozie, met with traditional medicine practitioners to address concerns surrounding the practice.
According to Onyenji, Governor Chukwuma Soludo is a lover of positive culture and traditions of Ndigbo, and the meeting was called to educate traditionalists on the government’s stance on native doctors and ezenwanyi practices. Onyenji noted that Anambra has been plagued by fake native doctors and ezenwanyi, and Governor Soludo has approved the documentation of native doctors and ezenwanyi to weed out the fake ones.
The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Law Mefor, emphasized that the Soludo administration never said traditional practices and native doctors would end in Anambra. Instead, Soludo aims to eliminate fake native doctors and promote genuine traditional practices.
Some participants at the meeting complained about intimidation by Presidents General, Agunechmba security outfit, and illegal collection of money from their members. They requested to be part of the team investigating fake native doctors and ezenwanyi in the state.
The Anambra State Government’s clarification on native doctor/ezenwanyi practice aims to promote genuine traditional practices, eliminate fake practitioners, and ensure the well-being of Ndi Anambra.
