The maiden celebration of World Homeopathy day in Nigeria held on the 10th of April, 2025 at Mgbidi, Imo state has evoked the issue of non-payment of compensation to Pan African Homeopathic Medical College which was founded by the Nigeria’s foremost homeopathic doctor, the late Eze Dr.Michael Okafor.
It should be recalled that on the 12th of May,2001 and subsequently, 21st of December, 2003, some irete youths of the community had carried out a mayhem in Ossemoto, Oguta local government area which resulted in the destruction of people’s homes, buildings and facilities of the famous Pan African Homeopathic Medical College in Ossemoto of which a community leader, widow and a passer-by were reported to lose their lives in the crisis.
During the maiden celebration of the World Homeopathy Day, the Nigerian homeopathic doctors, students of PAHC and others had decried the non payment of compensation to the homeopathic college which had relocated from Ossemoto to Mgbidi, the head quarters of Oru West local government area due to the severe destruction of their property and facilities by the youths.
Upon notification,the state government set up a panel of enquiry to probe into the destruction of lives and property at Osommoto and resolved that compensation be paid to the affected individuals and the college consequent upon damages suffered.
Report indicated initially that Imo State Emergency Board had opted for the state government to pay 70% compensation,while the commuinty was to offset the 30% of it,not until it was reversed where the state government would pay 30% and the community to pay 70% considering the attacks made.
The lingering of the non payment of the compensation that has spanned the successive state governments in Imo from 2003 till date which became a source of worry as expressed during the maiden celebration of the World Homeopathy Day where the significant contributions of the late Eze Dr. Michael Okafor, the founder of homeopathy in this part of the World were acknowledged with encomiums.
The provost of the Pan African Homeopathic Medical College and the special adviser to the Homeopathic Medical Association of Nigeria, Dr.Nkem Okafor said that they had gathered to celebrate a day dedicated to recognize the contributions of both homeopathy and homeopaths to healthcare and also those who have benefited from its healing.
Dr. Okafor highlighted that it was also a day chosen to commemorate with the birthday of the founder of homeopathic system of medicine, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann(1755-1843) and as well as to remember the key roles of the late Eze Dr. Michael Okafor.
The communique raised for the celebration that was organized by the Pan African Homeopathic Medical College in association with the Homeopathic Medical Association of Nigeria was signed by Dr.Julian Ukpaka,the national President of HMAN; Dr.A.D.C.Akubueze; the national Secretary of HMAN; Dr. Nkem Okafor provost, PHMC and special adviser to HMAN reeled some key resolutions that bordered on the homeopathic medicine being practiced within the scope and tenet of training and that both the federal and state ministry of health or their agents cannot be in the position to identify qualified homeopathic medical doctors and more that homeopathic medicine differs from traditional or herbal medicine and that homeopathic medicine is a valid, statutory and recognized system of medicine in Nigeria backed by the laws of the Federation.
