ALTERNATIVE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS IN NIGERIA

* REVEREND FATHER ANSELM ADODO. He is a monk of St. Benedict Monastery, Ewu. For the past ten years, he has been involved in intensive research into the medicinal uses of plants, and disseminates the knowledge through publications, seminars and workshops. He is the director of the Monastery’s herbal clinic.

Father Adodo demystifies the involvement of the monks in the ancient practice of traditional medicine: “my interest in herbal medicine is basically because of my conviction, having studied philosophy and theology, that it is God working in nature. We have to develop what we have…when I decided to practice herbal medicine even as a monk, it was difficult initially for people to understand because the general idea people have about a priest is someone sent by the missionaries. Someone who should abhor anything cultural…

We started the herbal clinic in 1992 but not until 1996 did we make it formal. It took this while for people to really understand us and what we are doing. The community was not sure how to relate with us. They were afraid because they have never seen priests involved in herbal medicine practice; even Christian ministers were afraid because they didn’t understand what this was all about. But they were consoled because this is a monastery.”

Pax Herbal Centre is a computerized herbal clinic situated just after the entrance to the monastery. It is equipped with a modern pharmacy and stocked with well packaged herbal products. The clinic also has a drugs manufacturing factory and storage store. Here, various drugs are produced from locally sourced herbs and roots from the vegetation around the monastery.

OUTFIT: PAX HERBAL CENTRE, St. Benedict Monastery, Ewu, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. Outlets: Catholic churches nationwide.
Email: ansosb@yahoo.com



* DR. PAUL OLISAH OJEIH was born on December 2, 1945. He is a graduate of Nolan Institute of Natural Medicine, Idaho, U.S.A in 1979. He has since obtained a Ph.D in Comparative Medicine.

He is a fellow of International Academy of Lymphology, New York and Research Fellow of Tropical Medicine, New York.
He has been involved in several researches on AIDS, the most notable being his invitation, in 1988, by the Tanzanian government to carry out an AIDS cure project.
His hobbies include writing, reading, research into nature, cooking, watching films, football, wrestling, fishing, traveling, music (classical and jazz).

OUTFIT: Iris Medical Foundation
22, Ijaiye Road (2nd Gate bus stop)
Ogba –Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: ; 01-4705492; 01-7754133; 08023050797
Email: drojeih@yahoo.com

* DR. MAGNUS ADEYEMI ATILADE was born in Lagos on the 31st of May 1944. He attended Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, and the University of Ibadan.

He has a B.Sc. in medicine and D.C.M – Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine from North Eastern College of Chiropractic Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Dr. Atilade, although a chiropractor, is also a clergyman. He is the Bishop of Lagos, of the Gospel Baptist Conference of Nigeria and Overseas. He is provost of the Nigerian College of Nigerian Medicine
In his spare time, he goes fishing.

OUTFIT: St. Luke’s Chiropractic Specialist Clinic,
2, Ekelolu Street,
Surulere,
Itire Road,
Surulere, Lagos.

* DR. BAMIDELE LOUIS OGAGA was born on January 29, 1949 on Lagos Island.
Between 1955 – 1967, he attended St. Patrick number one primary school Sapele, and St. Peter Claver College, Aghalokpi, all in Delta State.
For his higher school certificate, he went to Government College, Ughelli, Delta State in 1968 and Federal School of Science, Onikan, Lagos from 1968 to 1970.
From 1971 to 1976, he was at Ruprecht-karl-universitaet, Heidelberg, Germany, where he read medicine.
Between 1977 – 1978,he studied nutritional medicine in Steyr, Austria.
He also practiced in Austria before teaming up with Elizabeth Kafaru upon returning to Nigeria between 1988 -1989.
He set up his clinic in 1993, specializing in Nutritional Medicine. He claims to be the only person in the country practicing this form of medicine.

OUTFIT: Rodwell Healthcare Services
127, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos,
Nigeria.
Tel: 01-836398; 08033278418