‘Developing brands that deliver is our greatest accomplishment’

Jeph Akaehie is the chief executive officer of Greenpower Healthcare Limited, which manufactures organic drugs. In this interview, Akaehie tells Stephen Onyekwelu how organic drugs are receiving renewed attention and adhering to standards.

Excerpts:

How did you get into this industry?
I am a trained science lab technician, trained herbal medicine researcher and developer as well as an American certified business consultant. However, my attention was drawn to natural wellness because of my passion for helping people solve their health problems without causing them further harm while in the process. I have over 10 years’ experience in organic medicine manufacturing.
Among the major challenges with herbal solutions to wellness are ascertaining purity and concentration of active ingredients, how would you respond to this?
The world is evolving. We are not just an herbal company. We are a healthcare company with key focus on manufacturing products made of 100% organic ingredients. There are so many unprofessional herbal dealers out there who sell products without proper dosage, scientific analysis and researches. Now, our company is unique so are our products. Our products are well researched, analysed and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approved. We manufacture our products under proper supervision as well as under stringent conditions. We are a team of professionals (biochemists, microbiologists & medical doctors).
What is the difference between organic and non-organic drugs?
I would rather explain this with an illustration. When you are thirsty, no matter the rate of fluid you take that is not the natural water, the thirst will never stop. Organic medicine is the natural solution to health problems differently from Mother Nature and it is very friendly to the body while non-organic drugs are drugs processed from plants with special attention given to the main chemical/active chemical ingredients. Sometimes people reject organic products because they are impatient to wait for it to start working while on the other hand nonorganic drugs give you faster result. Organic medicine may be slow in action because it addresses the root cause of health conditions and hence have no negative impacts on the body provided the dose is taken according to proper prescription.
Why should anyone substitute synthetic, apparently faster remedies for the seemingly slower, organic ones?
We believe that when solving a problem, it is always better to address it from the root cause instead of addressing probably the symptoms and that is why it looks like organic products take a longer time before its impacts can be felt by a patient. However, organic products are safer as they have fewer or no side-effects on the consumers compared to chemical based drugs.

What are your research and development processes like, where are your laboratories?

Our approach to research and development is absolutely unique. Every brand we produce starts and ends with the consumer. We are focused on consumer-driven discovery which involves understanding and discovering new ways to innovate and change people’s lives. Also, our well connected Research and Development (R&D) team is made up of a diverse mix of different professionals and specialisations. Whatever solution we want to develop, we work together from start to end, creating innovative, effective and consumer friendly product. Our manufacturing plant and laboratory are situated in Owerri, Imo State.
Can you say there has been an increase in the confidence in the use of organic drugs?
Absolutely! So many years ago, organic drugs were manufactured by our uneducated grandfathers but today, more professionals are in the organic medicine industry. The organic drugs are now standardised, NAFDAC registered, well researched and produced under stringent condition and so many more people are coming back to natural/organic medicine. Even great countries like the United States of America, China and Egypt have embraced natural medicine and we know Nigeria is coming up too. Talk about wellness in general & the factors that can make someone healthy and another unhealthy. You see, health refers simply to a physical body being free from diseases, but when we talk about wellness it is an overall balance of your physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental, and occupational well-being. Total wellness begins with you and I.
Wellness is an overall balance of your physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, environmental, and occupational well-being. To a greater extent, our decisions and lifestyles are the forces that determine the state of our wellness. Whenever you see someone who is healthier than the other, just know that he/she is living a different lifestyle.

Your target is the African market, what is your strategy to achieve this?
In business, partnership is everything. We intend to open opportunities for Greenpower Franchise fully by January, 2018. We are already concluding deals in Namibia, Ghana and Cameroon and we will keep expanding our reach.
Local herbal solutions such as the ‘agbo’ hawked by women on the streets are highly patronised, how can this be developed into a formal industry?
Researches need to be properly carried out on it first of all. You will also consider so many factors in order to revamp such product which includes: the shelf life of the product, right dosage form, packaging, etc.

What is your greatest accomplishment so far as a healthcare company?
Developing brands that deliver is our greatest accomplishment so far. We get testimonies from our customers who have been trying to achieve pregnancy for over 10 years.
Some use our product for just 30 days others have to use it up to 90 days. We have over 2,000 verifiable pregnancy testimonies from across Africa. Our flagship brand (FreeFlow Capsule) is really making us proud. Secondly, I was shocked to get a deal from the Deputy Minister of Health, Namibia who wants to register one of our brands in Namibia. This deal was concluded at the MEDIC WEST AFRICA EXHITION where we exhibited as the only made in Nigeria products manufacturer. We are getting better day by day.
Do you see organic solutions going mainstream? Why?
Absolutely! More professionals are venturing into the natural wellness and herbal industry. Few years ago, most of the herbal drugs were not standardised but today the story is different. Countries like China and the United States of America have gone very far in herbal drug research and development and Nigeria is also coming up. Africans are coming back to organic products because of its benefits and less or no side effects. With more professionals venturing into the manufacturing of organic products, within a short period of time, more people will definitely embrace organic products.
What is your relationship with orthodox medicine?
Well, like I said earlier we are focused on 100% organic products for now. However as a company made up of healthcare professionals, we get different kinds of enquiries from patients from various parts of the world. Some cases our products do not handle, we refer them to some of our partner medical centres.
How many of your brands are prescribed by medical doctors? Why?
We are yet to have our products prescribed by medical doctors due to some in-house reasons but we are in the process of having alliance with medical doctors.