The Other Doctor

By Annette Edo
Monday, July 21, 2003

Omon Oleabhiele, an Edo State traditional doctor is a success story of the alternative medical practice

For years, Omon Oleabhiele could not understand why there was so much fuss about government's abhorrence for traditional medical practice. In 1960, Oleabhiele joined other members of traditional doctors to hold a meeting at the premises of Daily Times, Kakawa Street, Lagos. The meeting was to discuss the future of herbal medicine. But hardly had the meeting started when the police, at the instance of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, aborted it.

They confiscated and destroyed the billboards and signboards of the traditional healers and also warned them sternly to give up their practice or face prosecution. The cold war between the orthodox and unorthodox medical practitioners continued for another 11 years.

Today, Oleabhiele can look back with pride and say he had fought a good fight and the harvest of that dogged determination actively supported by his colleagues, for recognition has now paid off. Oleabhiele emerged as the first traditional medical doctor to be licensed in 1971. He is today the medical director and proud owner of Omon Herbal Hospital, Benin, Edo State. The hospital has several branches across the country.

Oleabhiele attributed the recognition accorded traditional medical practice to the outbreak of the civil war, which overwhelmed the orthodox medical practitioners and the traditional healers could no longer be overlooked. "Today, the Oba of Benin is licensed 001, which is the first position and because of his position while my licence number is 002," he said.

Oleabhiele is currently the president, Africa National Medical Exhibition Organisation and deputy president-general, World Council of Traditional Doctors. He is a recipient of ECOWAS distinguished corporate achievers' award.

He got his inspiration in trado-medical practice from Enayin Akweneme, his grandmother. "My grandmother was a big influence on me," he said. Oleabhiele told Newswatch that no matter how serious or controversial an ailment was, he had the curative devices to treat it.

That appears to have endeared him to many patients who now visit his clinics from various parts of the country and abroad for treatment. "My area of trado-medical practice is general treatment which ranges from venereal diseases of all descriptions to spermatozoa deficiency, mental disorder, sickle-cell anaemia, rheumatism, cataract, diabetes, candidacies, glaucoma, and HIV I and II. "Right in this clinic, I have many lunatics and HIV/AIDS-infected patients whom I have cured."

Oleabhiele told Newswatch that he has a federal ministry of health's approval to treat all cases of HIV/AIDS. At the time Newswatch visited his Benin clinic, he said he had more than 100 resident patients, most of who were lunatics and HIV/AIDS patients.

What Olieabhiele finds frustrating in his job right now is the lack of funds to adequately help those who are in need of medical assistance but cannot afford it. Oleabhiele has in his employment university graduates and NCE holders to look after the management and finances of the clinics. He also has competent apprentices to look after the patients in his absence.

Oleabhiele, who believes he is the "greatest natural healer of this generation," is regarded among his peers as a talented workaholic. For someone who has four wives and 34 children, he cannot be otherwise.