I JAW TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND ITS THERAPEUTIC VALUE AMONG SOME RESIDENTS OF LAGOS

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the therapeutic value of Ijaw traditional medical practice among residents of some Lagos suburbs. The result of this study relying on (80) samples of respondents through questionnaire and in-depth interview methods revealed that besides the availability of modern medical services the traditional Ijaw medical practice is one of the means by which people overcome their health problems in Lagos. The study further revealed that Ijaw medical practice had effectively managed and cured such ailments as malaria, typhoid fever, sore-throat, hernia, pile, stroke, bone-fractures, child convulsion, and migraine. Result'from the study showed that ailments were cured by Ijaw medical practitioners who specialized in massage therapy, herbalism, (have knowledge in the use of medicinal herbs, roots, plants and other natural healing properties), traditional bonesetters and elderly Ijaw traditional midwives (TBAs). The study concludes that the Ijaw traditional medical practice may not be in the mainstream of healthcare delivery in Nigeria but its patronage by Lagos residents showed that it constitutes a major alternative solution in the Nigeria's over-stretch medical services.