The Anambra State government has slammed a ban on the advertisement of all forms of herbal medicines in the State.
Before the ban, the State was being ridiculed as one where first time visitors were greeted with open advertisement of herbal medicines in motor parks and other strategic places.
Herbal medicines are products made from botanicals, or plants, used for the treatment of diseases or to manage health conditions. A medicinal product made from plants and used for curative or preventive purposes is called herbal supplement.
Several residents have often depended on herbal medicines as remedy for range of illnesses and diseases.
This is common for people living in rural settlements. Herbal concoctions have been touted as cure for several diseases, and continue to be popular even in urban areas.
In recent times, however, attention has been brought to the increasing number of people suffering from Kidney failure. This has been attributed to the indiscriminate use of herbal medicines.
The ban of open advertisement of herbal medicines was announced by the Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, who said that the government has directed that all advertisements for herbal drugs must be approved by the office of the special Adviser to the Governor on Herbal medicine and Pharmaceuticals before they could be displayed in any public space or media platform.