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14 January 2019 | Story Thabo Kessah | Photo Thabo Kessah
Dr Lisa Komoreng
Dr Lisa Komoreng’s research highlights traditional medicinal plant qualities used to deal with diseases like TB and elephantiasis.

The burden that diseases like tuberculosis (TB), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), skin infections, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) infections bring to the country, mainly poverty-stricken communities, has prompted Dr Lisa Komoreng to focus her research on traditional medicinal plants.

 

South Africa, says Dr Komoreng, has the third highest number of reported cases and the fifth highest number of estimated prevalent cases, with the second highest burden of drug-resistant TB cases in the world amongst the 22 high-burden countries.

South Africa is burdened
by elephantiasis and treating
it remains a huge problem,
says Dr Lisa Komoreng.

 

“According to the Free State Provincial Strategic Plan (2012-2016), HIV and TB are the leading causes of death in the Province, with TB being the second most leading cause. Our country is also burdened by elephantiasis and treating it remains a huge problem. Patients are often turned away from some of the public hospitals, reasons being that there is no treatment in the country or that the disease needs specialist care. It with this in mind that my research focuses on providing treatment that is cheaper than western medicine, easily accessible, with fewer or no side effects,” she said.

 

“People suffering from elephantiasis are not only physically disabled, but they suffer mental, social and financial losses contributing to stigma and poverty. Some of the drugs used to treat the disease are ineffective against adult parasitic worms, which are the ones that cause the disease, and they also have side effects. Our research in dealing with these diseases enables us to work hand-in-hand with herbalists, traditional healers and people who have indigenous knowledge about the use of traditional medicine. We consult with them in order to acquire information about the medicinal plants that are used to treat and manage those diseases. Once they provide us with information, we collect the plant species together, which we subsequently take to the University herbarium for proper identification of their scientific names and to the laboratory for experiments,” she added.

 

Dr Komoreng is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Plant Sciences at the Qwaqwa Campus. She has authored and co-authored over 15 research articles and has presented her research at various national and international conferences.  Her research team comprises of 5 MSc and 4 PhD students.

 

The Thuthuka NRF Rating Track (2015 – 2017 and 2018 – 2020) funds the research project on elephantiasis.

News Archive

Mafikizolo and Francois van Coke to perform at Kovsie Extravaganza
2015-09-09


What better way is there to welcome spring than to invite beautiful voices into our backyard? The Arts and Culture office at the University of the Free State (UFS) presents the annual Kovsie Extravaganza, a major highlight on our entertainment calendar.

This year, the musical festival features Mafikizolo and Fracois van Coke as the main acts.

Mafikizolo is an award-winning South African Kwaito duo consisting of Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza. The group has accumulated statuettes at the South African Music Awards for Duo of the Year in 2004, 2007 and 2014. Moreover, they have recently released Best Of 2015 - their latest album.

Francois van Coke is also scheduled to indulge Alternate Rock fans with tracks from his newly-released solo debut album. Francois is the lead vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the South African rock bands Fokofpolisiekar and Van Coke Kartel.

The Extravaganza stage will also be shared by our very own UFS Choir, and various students showcasing their musical, dance, poetry and other talents.

Event details:

Date: Saturday 12 September 2015

Time: 19:00

Place: Kovsie Kerk, Bloemfontein Campus

Tickets are available at R120 for the general public and R80 for students. For more information, contact Tonderai Chiyindiko on 051 401 9349 or Chiyindikot@ufs.ac.za.

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