DISEASES CENTRE: WE HAVE NOT TAPPED INTO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
By Brian Mwale
The Tropical Diseases Research Centre -TDRC- has observed that Zambia has not tapped into the potential of traditional medicine.
TDRC Board Chairperson GODFREY BIEMBA says TDRC has been conducting some research on traditional medicine including phase one of the Sondashi Formula but has not done much.
Prof. BIEMBA has expressed happiness that government has shown commitment on researching traditional medicine with a draft bill in place for establishing ‘The traditional medicine council’.
He is hopeful that this will help create synergies between TDRC which is a Statutory Disease Research Centre and private players of traditional medicines.
Officially opening a TDRC branch in Lusaka this morning, Prof. BIEMBA noted that operating guidelines for researching traditional medicine have already been put in place by the National Health Research authority.
And Prof. BIEMBA commended the government for putting a premium on health research and evidence generation.
He said policies and structures that government has put in place will enhance health research.
Prof. BIEMBA expressed optimism that the opening of a branch in Lusaka for TDRC in collaboration with ETONE Zambia will enhance health research beyond tropical diseases but also nutritional and genomic areas.
He said the Lusaka centre for TDRC which has been operational in Ndola since 1987 will also promote training of researchers’ and collaboration with international researchers with whom he called to emulate ETONE Zambia’s collaboration.
And TDRC Director GERSHOM CHONGWE said he anticipates that the branch will offer various health services like testing for Covid-19 for the public and will expand to offer other services like health research as part of its mandate.
Dr. CHONGWE said the Statutory Body will also partner with other foreign research centres for development of evidence based information.