Nigeria Union Of Practitioners Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine (NUPCAM) has held its inaugural meeting after the recognition of the body by the Federal Government.
The inaugural meeting attracted members from states of the federation, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and Enugu State Ministry of Health.
In a keynote address at the meeting, the new National President of NUPCAM , Professor Ernest Ugo announced that with help of the Federal Ministry of Health, the body was now fully registered as a professional trade union under the Trade Union Act.
According to Ugo, the body having been registered must start operating as a union and in line with the registration body’s operational clauses which were already approved by NUPCAM constitution.
Some of the clauses include that, “the trusteeship system is abolished and replaced with National Delegates Conference, the special National Delegates Conference, National Executive Committee, and the Central Working Committee.
“He further said that staff staff shall be under an administrative secretary and whatever funds available, the general Secretary who shall be a full time, shall be the head of the Secretariat.
Speaking on the achievements of the body, Ugo revealed that the National Universities Commission has approved a Bachelor of Science programme in Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nigerian Universities.
He said that graduates of the institution shall be entitled to go for National Service and for employment in the Federal and State Civil Service of Nigeria.
He also stated that, “the University of Abuja has mounted a post graduate Diploma programme in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine”, adding that, “some members of NUPCAM have been tipped to serve as lecturers and professors in Homoeopathy, Acupuncture and others”.
Earlier, the Director Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Department at the Federal Ministery of Health, Pharmacist Titus T. Tile, on behalf of the ministry congratulated the Executives and Members of NUPCAM on the successful registration by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as a Trade Union and Umbrella Body for Practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nigeria
He recalled that prior to the publication of the official notice gazette and subsequent registration, the Federal Ministry of Health officially communicated to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Ministry of Health’s support and recognition of NUPCAM as the umbrella body for CAM Practitioners and Associations in Nigeria.
He said: “The existence of the umbrella body for CAM Practitioners is critical to easy communication and collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.
“The recognition, recommendation and registration of NUPCAM was done in trust and good standing with the caliber of CAN practitioners who passionately pushed for this and sincerely followed it up unto completion, notably the highly respected and distinguished Professor Ernest Ugo
“The Ministry expects that the Union will make good use of this opportunity to foster peace, love and unity of the members. It is of essence to adhere strictly to the Constitution approved by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and other rules guiding trade unions in Nigeria.”
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