Traditional and Orthodox Medicine Systems in Nigerian Rural Health Service Delivery: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Traditional Medicine organically evolved from the quest of indigenous people globally: to maintain a healthy life, prevent diseases, prolong life, diagnose and resolve disease conditions in culturally accepted manner. This practice continues to play a prominent role despite swift civilization and increment of more researched and formulated Orthodox Medicines in Nigeria health care delivery system. This is due to the failure of Orthodox Medicine to meet the basic health problems of the poorest and the most vulnerable population in rural part of Nigeria. Hence the need for a health system that is holistic in function and practice on both Orthodox Medicine and Traditional Medicine. This paper presented a systematic and comparative review of Orthodox Medicine and Traditional Medicine. Their peculiar roles in rural health service delivery were highlighted. The exceptional usefulness of Orthodox Medicine in acute cases requiring urgent and intensive care were mentioned. It identified that the dearth of resources, inadequate and decaying infrastructure, and inequality in resource distribution, workers strikes and excessive levels of health worker migration–rural to urban/abroad have led to a deplorable Orthodox Medicine system in Nigeria. Traditional Medicine characteristics such as -availability, accessibility, affordability and effectiveness made it an indispensable health care delivery for rural dwellers, coupled with being a good source of foreign investment, socio-economic development and national prosperity. The paper concluded that it becomes imperative to infuse Traditional Medicine into Orthodox Medicine to bridge deficiencies and produce a health care system that will ensure safe health for all. It is recommend that Traditional Medicine should be officially recognized, tolerated and integrated into Nigeria’s orthodox health policy to meet the needs of both rural and urban population.