Samuel Kallon 
By Mohamed Kamara
A distinguish herbal specialist in Botanical studies Dr. Jacob Sawutu who is an Associate professor of Botany at Abijan University has condemned the Pharmaceutical Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) for prohibiting the importation and sales of Coco Samba, herbal medicinal produce in Nigeria.
He says the consumable Coco Samba is sold in eight West African countries and is effectively in high demand as a reliable herb that heals maladies in humans.
He said in the Economic Commission of West African States (Ecowas), provisions are made clear for member states to enjoy free movement and equally so Inter State Trade opportunities should thrive.
He said before the company was granted licence to operate both locally and internationally, the herbal medicine had been certified by a scientific expatriate committee with laboratory text which shows that it is good for human consumption based on key findings. Comparatively, he said, Nigeria is more scientifically advanced than Sierra Leone to prove a content of a medicinal herb to be able to determine the product marketable appeal.
Sierra Leone, he said, lack these facilities. Pharmaceutical Board had banned the African made substance but not others.
He said the Board banned the product and failed to make public its reasons for doing so.
He said that is unethical as it shows some hidden truth as to whether it’s all about promoting warfare in the drug market business as one chases another.
He said in Sierra Leone, a senior pharmaceutical personnel was investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for playing double games by prohibiting one to give chance to the other.
The doctor said he had made several research visits to Sierra Leone and he praised the environment of the country with green plants of all kinds seen all over.
He said unlike Nigeria which operates a traditional hospital system in collaboration with government owned hospitals, government doctors in Nigeria would refer cases to the herbal hospitals.
In Nigeria, he said, herbalists are the more effective in service than the medics.
He said unlike Sierra Leone, which is rich in herbal plants but it challenged with with less public interest.
He said herbal medicine has cure since centuries ago before the invention or use of modern medicine.
He said he could challenge the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone to publish their report on what the contents consist of saying that is not good for consumption.
He said the board itself know about petty traders selling herbal medicine in the Streets and is doing nothing.
He said “if we as Africans failed to praise ourselves for a good work well done it is because we were Anti-Africa and virus of neo-colonialist agents. Because the colonists underground pharmaceutical producing factories were producing unchecked products with distinction to be sold in Africa.
