A Survey of the activities of traditional medicine Practitioners (Tmps) in Southern Ijaw, Sagbama and Ogbia Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The impact of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) in healthhcare delivery; their role in over exploitation of natural plant resources plants were studied in Southern Ijaw; Sagbama and Ogbia Local Government areas of Bayelsa State; Nigeria. A total of sixty-nine (69) TMPs were interviewed. Most of the TMPs were general practitioners; and bone setters. Patients are referred to them from hospitals; chemists and churches. The practice may be going into extinction as more than three quarters of the TMPs are between age range 41 - 80 with about 13between 31 and 40 and approximately 40have not trained anyone. About 70of the respondents depend on collection of plants from the wild for treating their patients; thereby posing a serious bioconservation problem on species of plants they exploit