The Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board has recalled the licenses of newly certified Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in the state, pending the completion of a revised General Hospital Immersion Programme.
EpeInsights reports that the Board’s Registrar, Prince Babatunde Adele, announced the development on Friday during a stakeholder meeting convened to communicate recent key policy shifts.
He explained that all ongoing and future TBA training programmes have been temporarily suspended until further directives are issued.
“The General Hospital Immersion Programme will now be conducted exclusively at flagship Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). Therefore, licenses will be recalled, contingent upon the completion of the Immersion programme,” Adele said.
Represented at the meeting by the Director of Research, Training and Development at the Board, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Adele stressed that the decision reflects the government’s resolve to enhance the quality of maternal and child healthcare delivery in Lagos.
He further revealed that a mandatory four-year training programme at approved centres will now be a prerequisite for all prospective TBAs before licensing. According to him, the overhaul is designed to strengthen capacity, standardize practices, and safeguard public health.
As part of the directive, affected TBAs have been instructed to suspend their practice immediately and refer patients under their care to appropriate healthcare facilities until the revised process is completed.
However, Adele clarified that the new directive does not affect practitioners who have already been licensed prior to this announcement.
To ease the transition, the Board has given the affected practitioners a two-week grace period to submit their licenses, assuring them of continued support and guidance throughout the restructuring process.
The decision is expected to spark mixed reactions among traditional medicine practitioners, who play a significant role in maternal health care across various communities.
However, health experts say the state government’s firm stance highlights its growing emphasis on patient safety, standardization, and the integration of traditional care into formal healthcare structures.
