Traditional Eye Medicine Practitioners in South Western Nigeria: A Need for Collaboration and Standardization of Current Practices

Aim: To determine the magnitude of traditional eye medicine practitioners (TEMP), the eye conditions
they treat in a local community and proffer a form of continuous education to improve on their
practices.
Study Design: A prospective cross sectional study.
Methodology: Traditional medical practitioners (TMP) from two randomly selected local Government
areas (LGA) in Ogun State were invited for a One-day seminar on Primary healthcare in conjunction
with the Public Health department of The Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun
State in April 2013. Each respondent completed an assistant administered Questionnaire.
Results: Fifty-six respondents took part in the study with 61% females. Age range was 28-73 years
with a mean of 50.49±11.24 years. 96.4% had at least Primary school education. Only 14.3%
indicated that they treat Eye conditions, while 32.1% did not indicate if they treated or did not treat eye
conditions. Eye conditions treated, were red eyes, eye discharges and Cataract. Medications used
were mainly plant extracts, breast milk, urine mixture and other native mixtures. Seventy-five percent
of the respondents that indicated treating eye conditions, learnt the treatment from their ‘masters’ and
50% of them presently have trainees. 32.1% of the respondents declined answering our questionnaire
but indicated interest in learning more about Primary eye care.
Conclusion: Reaching out to the traditional eye care practitioners is an essential tool towards
achieving Universal eye care in Nigeria.