Amid reports of COVID-19 resurfacing in Nigeria, a pioneering alternative medicine practitioner discusses the global acceptance of his research-driven formulations, his success in treating complex chronic illnesses, and the urgent need for the country to integrate traditional and orthodox healthcare with a select team of journalists. DAUDA ISMAIL and NENGI ELIJAH were there for AlajzirahNigeria.
Sometime in April, COVID-19 was reported to have resurfaced in Nigeria. We recall vividly that you were at the forefront of COVID-19 treatment in Nigeria using alternative medicine. What do you make of this resurgence, sir?
For a very long time, we have followed developments around the world closely alongside information from the World Health Organization, WHO, and global health authorities had consistently maintained that COVID-19 had not completely disappeared, so we knew there was a strong possibility that COVID-19 could return and could return in another guise. Based on this, we approached social media operators to allow us to advertise our products, wishing to reassure people globally that COVID-19 can be prevented and treated with our formulations, and we have publications and documented cases to support our claims.
We make it clear to sceptics that our discoveries are the products of rigorous research, not folklore or inherited traditional remedies. These discoveries are entirely research-driven.
Initially, when we applied to the social media platforms, they declined our request. However, after we presented evidence of our work and the patients we have successfully treated, they reconsidered. We argued that since we had carried out extensive research and achieved positive results, it would be unjust to prevent us from informing the world. Eventually, they reviewed our application and approved the advertisement. So Meta eventually approved the advertisement.
When was this, sir?
I believe it was about six months ago. If you visit our page, you will see “COVID” boldly written on my attire in the advertisement, which has been running ever since. Naturally, some people leave negative comments, but we are unbothered. We believe strongly in our work, and many people worldwide share that confidence.
For instance, we recently we treated a woman who had travelled to Russia 15 years ago due to fertility complications. She had reportedly been told by the Russian medical system that she would never conceive. To the glory of God, she is now about two months pregnant; she was preparing for IVF while using our medication. Furthermore, her husband suffered from azoospermia, meaning his sperm count was virtually zero. Following our treatment, his sperm count reportedly increased to approximately 40 million, enabling him to impregnate her naturally.
What we are doing is real, and I want people to have faith in it. By the grace of God, several of our treatments are gradually gaining wider recognition, including our non-surgical treatment for heart enlargement. Just yesterday, I heard of a discovery in Italy relating to clearing clogged arteries to address heart enlargementsomething we have been doing here for 15 years. Doubters must understand that our work is genuine, and we will continue to improve upon it.
You will also recall that the WHO sponsored the presentation of my discovery, SABMAL, in Ethiopia during a United Nations meeting more than 20 years ago, where it was officially accepted. It demonstrated about 97 per cent efficacy against malaria, and we have since enhanced it. Today, there is a resistant strain of malaria that many conventional treatments fail to address, yet patients we treat reportedly experience relief within a single day.
The woman you mentioned who travelled to Russia 15 years ago, how old is she now?
She is about 45 years old.
How would you describe the global acceptance of your products?
The acceptance has been highly encouraging. In fact, while we were speaking, you just heard a senior medical officer in the United States call me regarding medications for his sons seizure condition, his own prostate and sexual health concerns, his wifes condition, and his brothers kidney problem.
What about acceptance back home in Nigeria?
The challenge in Nigeria is that many people remain unaware of our work. That is why we need more press releases and interviews to educate the public. However, anyone seeking effective treatment will naturally go where they believe they can find help. No one can stop that. If I am unwell, I will naturally seek treatment wherever my condition can best be managed.
Nigeria is currently working towards eliminating malaria by 2030, yet officials have not engaged us or sought our collaboration. They are not working with practitioners like us, even though mosquitoes have now developed resistance to insecticides and other control measures.
Do you think Nigeria can realistically achieve this target by 2030?
Nigeria is our country, and we pray that it succeeds. However, we also believe that in many areas, the necessary competence may be lacking. The government should engage those who possess the required expertise; it is not merely a matter of making grand declarations.
How would you describe the response from the orthodox medical community in Nigeria regarding your work?
You see, when those who are supposed to be experts fail to demonstrate real expertise, what do you expect? As for us, this is a gift God has endowed us with for the benefit of humanity. Why did I choose herbal medicine in the first place? While graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1980, officials from the WHO spoke with us. They predicted that the synthetic medicines widely used today would gradually lose efficacy in the years ahead, and that natural medicine would eventually dominate healthcare. I took that message seriously. I graduated as an industrial pharmacist with the intention of manufacturing my own medicines, and that was how I embraced herbal medicine. Today, what the WHO predicted has indeed come to pass.
I do not concern myself with critics. Those who choose otherwise are entitled to their opinions. Once patients know what they want, they will seek it out themselves.
For example, an 81-year-old woman was admitted to the Garki general Hospital and was scheduled to have her leg amputated within six days due to diabetes complications and a non-healing ulcer. Without the doctors knowledge, she obtained my diabetic medication. My prescription was for it to be taken twice daily, but her family increased the dosage on to thrice daily their own, hiding the medicine under the bed whenever the doctors approached.
To the glory of God, by the sixth day, the professor examined the wound after removing the bandages and discovered remarkable healing. He announced: The amputation I was meant to authorise today is hereby cancelled. Mama, congratulations. After todays dressing, you will be discharged.” Everyone was astonished. Although the doctors did not openly ask questions, they clearly suspected something unusual. So, patients should be wise enough to understand that in many countries, traditional and orthodox medicine work hand in hand. Why should it be different here?
The present administration initially showed considerable interest in herbal medicine. How far has that gone?
I believe they remain interested. Recently, I learnt that the Renewed Hope Agenda team went to Kano to deliberate on innovations within the health sector, with strong consideration being given to alternative medicine. Even the First Lady has reportedly been advocating for it.
The President himself reportedly commended the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Professor Martins Emeje, expressing satisfaction with the work being done. He stated that these medicines should be manufactured in large quantities for local use and export, so as to strengthen the economy and improve the value of the naira. I believe the President understands the concept clearly. Perhaps there have simply been delays caused by recent administrative changes within the ministry. Nevertheless, I am confident that progress will eventually be made.
