HIT and UNESWA turn to indigenous remedies

HARARE Institute of Technology (HIT) and University of Eswatini (UNESWA) have turned to the application of traditional knowledge to create and produce healthcare treatments.

On Wednesday, UNESWA, HIT, Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBio) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) held a stakeholder engagement meeting under the theme: “African traditional medicine and the development agenda in the SADC region.”

The purpose of the joint project by HIT and UNESWA and SADC-SIPS Project is to manage HIV and AIDS by creating safe, effective, and high-quality treatments based on traditional medicines and indigenous knowledge systems.

CEO and Registrar of National Biotechnology Authority Mr Dr Dexter Savadye said since its birth SANbio has made great strides within Zimbabwean Institutions.

“To date SANBio has implemented more than 10 projects at different institutions in Zimbabwe including UZ, CUT, NUST and AIBST, among others.

“There are products in our shops in Zimbabwe such as the resurrection bush-rooibos tea in PnP and the CUT animal block feed, courtesy of SANBI,” he said.

Mr Savadye said traditional leaders are at the core of this initiative. “I am aware that this project has at its centre the traditional leaders playing a vital role in linking Indigenous knowledge systems to modern day science and technology.

“Herbal medicine has proven to be a viable health alternative that provides viable solutions to health problems. For example, the global herbal medicine market size was valued at $201 billion in 2022 & is projected to grow to $371 billion by 2030,” he said.

European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe head of cooperation Mr Franck Porte said the principles of the SIPS were similar to those of EU’s developmental policies.

“Those principles mirror those of the EU’s comprehensive development policies, centred on poverty reduction, sustainable development, and promoting economic growth and employment,” he said.

Mr Porte said Covid-19 left Africa vulnerable to global supply chains and there was a need to address that.

“The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the vulnerabilities of global supply chains, particularly for vaccines, medicines, and health technology products. Africa, currently importing 99 percent of its vaccines and over 90 percent of medicines and health technologies, faces limitations in accessing quality medical products.

“Strengthening local manufacturing not only improves health outcomes but also presents an opportunity for the EU to support Africa’s leap into sustainable innovation, fostering human development, growth, and jobs,” he said. ◆ Full story on www.herald.co.zw