The Federal Government has been called upon to provide an enabling environment for microbiologists in tertiary institutions to showcase their knowledge of chemotherapy for public use as a good alternative to conventional antibiotics.
Risikat Ahmed, the Acting Head of the Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, who made the call in an interview with journalists opined that the enactment of a law by the government would give microbiologists ample opportunity to transform their researches into practice by way of producing it for use as alternative to orthodox or conventional medicine.
Ahmed, whose research interest is Drug Development towards providing alternative chemotherapy rather than the Conventional Antibiotic, expressed optimism that more value will be added to alternative chemotherapy if the Federal Government could come up with a legal framework for researchers in the University to impact the society with the product of their researches.
She affirmed that drugs produced by microbiologists are thorough products of research and very effective because they are made from plants and microbial sources.
The don noted that microbiologists are well trained and grounded researchers in producing medicine through natural ingredients, which she said is more powerful and more effective.
She explained that such medicine, produced from herbs, could be used as good alternative for conventional drugs, adding that drugs from them are followed with appropriate dosage and measurements, which is lacking in local unorthodox medicine.
Ahmed added that the government and private sectors have roles to play in the promotion of ground breaking research for the benefit of humanity.
While observing that the common man cannot afford orthodox medication, she said that the alternative drugs are natural because they are derived from plants, which are nature’s own pharmacy and are cheaper and play very vital roles.
The University don posited that too much use of conventional drugs could make micro-organism to create resistance, pointing out that once the micro-organisms are able to recognise the drug, such drugs automatically become less effective.
She explained that was the singular reason that makes a natural product scientist like her look for other sources that will be efficacious against which the micro-organisms wouldn’t be able to create resistance.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
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