The Department of Nature Conservation continues to strengthen its relationship with local traditional healers. Today the department is hosting a Phytomedicine Seminar at the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, formerly called North Campus. Last year the department hosted these healers for similar intentions. Dr Thanda Mbanjwa, a Lecturer in the department, said they were discussing a potential for collaboration, and since then, they have been actively exploring ways to formalize this relationship. “Our aim moving forward is to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the traditional healing institute and the University. This will ensure that both entities benefit from the outcomes of ongoing research.
Dr Mbanjwa said today’s event would focus on the importance of phytomedicine and its role in healthcare. Dr Mbanjwa also said the event would be honoured “by the presence of traditional healers, izangoma, and izinyanga, who will share their knowledge and practices related to medicinal plants”.
Phytomedicine, or the use of plant-based treatments, has been a cornerstone of traditional healing for centuries. The Head of the Department, Professor Kuben Naidoo, said Phytomedicine, as a human activity, has been practiced in parts of the world like the Middle East and Asia. Dr Mbanjwa said that Phytomedicine offers a significant potential for treating a variety of ailments in a natural, sustainable manner. “The seminar aims to deepen our understanding of the healing power of indigenous plants and their integration into modern healthcare systems,” said Dr Mbanjwa.
Dr Mbanjwa further said that the seminar would significantly impact both the community and our University. “For the community, it provides an opportunity to preserve and promote traditional healing methods while opening doors for future collaboration with researchers and healthcare providers. For the University, this seminar will enhance our engagement with indigenous knowledge systems and offer a deeper understanding of alternative medicine, contributing to academic research and curriculum development.”
Further, the objectives of the seminar were creating a platform for collaboration between the academic community and traditional healers and allowing for the exchange of indigenous knowledge and scientific research. “The seminar also aims to emphasize the role of plant-based treatments in improving public health and addressing the growing interest in sustainable and holistic healthcare,” said Dr Mbanjwa. By involving local traditional healers, the department aimed to foster stronger connections between the University and the surrounding communities, enabling mutual growth and empowerment. Such kind of relationship is sanctioned and encouraged by the University’s Anchor Strategy, which dictates that the University must have a mutual relationship with its neighbours.
The mutual benefits of this event will be “immense” as the department looks forward to building partnerships that bridge modern science and traditional wisdom, fostering a more holistic approach to health and well-being.