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29 July 2022 | Story André Damons | Photo André Damons
UFS Traditional Medicine
Recardia Schoeman, Scientific Officer in the Department of Pharmacology, gave Prof Paul Waako, Dr Samuel Baker Obakiro, and Dr Richard Oriko Owor from the Busitema University a tour of the department and its laboratories.

Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, Director of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS), played host to academics from the Busitema University in Uganda for benchmarking on traditional medicine and to establish collaboration between the two institutions.

Prof Paul Waako, Vice-Chancellor of the Busitema University – who was part of the visiting party – and Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, signed a collaboration agreement that enables the two institutions to work together and to get involved in the exchange of expertise as part of the collaboration.

Dr Samuel Baker Obakiro, Lecturer of Pharmacology and Therapeutics and Head of the Department of Pharmacology, and Dr Richard  Oriko Owor, a natural products chemist, accompanied Prof Waako on the visit to the UFS from 18 to 21 July, during which they undertook tours of various departments and laboratories, including Pharmacology, Virology, Chemistry, Genetics, Physics, Microbiology, and others. They also visited FARMOVS.

 

Establishing collaboration

Uganda – through their Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation – has a national drive to ensure that science contributes to socio-economic development through their major national agenda, which promotes local production, reduces importation, and increases exportation of goods. Dr Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, wants to ensure that the capacity of Ugandan scientists to conduct applied research will promote national development and reduce poverty.

Prof Waako said they came to the UFS to establish collaboration, as universities have an obligation to ensure that science improves the socio-economic situation in Africa. They would like to work with the UFS to ensure that science strengthens science in order to serve the people.

“Currently, one of the biggest challenges is the local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, and that is why we came to the Department of Pharmacology. We need to come together as African universities and use all the existing capacities to transform the lives of our people.”

“African traditional medicine has a lot to offer, and a lot of research has been done, but we have not been able to take it to the level of final commercialisable products. This is the reason of us coming here, we want to create that link to ensure that the science – which has already been identified and established – is able to move to product production,” says Prof Waako.

 

At the right place

They decided to visit the UFS after meeting Prof Matsabisa during his visit to their country’s universities as part of the WHO team.

According to Dr Obakiro, when walking down the corridors of the department, they can see that they are in the right place. “We are also looking at mentorship, as our university is still very young. I am happy and privileged to be here. We cannot succeed on our journey if we do not stand on your shoulders.”

Dr Obakiro said they are also looking at how to set up partnerships between academia and industry, as well as collaboration between the different academic departments, such as pharmacology, chemistry, microbiology, and virology, and how these collaborative initiatives can be effective and efficient to drive their agenda.

In welcoming the colleagues from West Africa, Prof Matsabisa said, “Let’s find a way to crawl together and eventually run together. If you want to move into drug discovery and development, no single scientist can do it alone, it is a multidisciplinary approach. It is a team effort with a shared vision. We have some experience that we can share with you, but we are not perfect, and I think we can learn together.”

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Repelsteeltjie: EXTRA Performance, Saturday 30 May at 11h00
2009-05-26

Production: Repelsteeltjie (Afrikaans)
Text: Thys Heydenrych
Directed by: Thys Heydenrych
Venue: Rehearsal Room, Scaena complex

Date:
22 - 23 & 25 - 27 May 2009

Friday 22 May - 11h00 & 18h00
Saturday 23 May - 11h00
Monday 25 May - 11h00
Tuesday 26 May - 15h00
Wednesday 27 May - 11h00

Repelsteeltjie: EXTRA Performance, Saturday 30 May at 11h00

Bookings: Computicket (Mimosa Mall en Checkers Money Markets)
Tickets:
R 20.00 per person
R 15.00 Blockbooking 10+

“Vandag is ek een, môre is ons twee, wanneer Pragtig haar kind vir my gee. Gelukkig sal niemand weet dat ek Repelsteeltjie heet.”

Who does not know the magical tale of Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm. A beautiful girl is in trouble and only a gnome can help. She makes a hasty promise, but it is far too terrible to keep. Let us take you to world where gnomes can spin gold out of mere straw, where the reigning prince genuinely care more about people and less about money and where truth prevails over falsehood and chaos.

The Department of Drama and Theatre Arts dusted off this fairytale and presents a new version which promises to entertain the whole family. Bring the children to enjoy a fun morning where Grandpa may also roar with laughter.

Tickets are available at Computicket. For more information and block reservations contact Thys Heydenrych at 0722353191 or Marijda Kamper at 051 401 2160.

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