The Centre for Plant Medicine Research – Mampong Akuapem (CPMR) is growing natural anti-snake venom as a pure treatment to avoid wasting the lives of people who find themselves bitten by snakes.
Researchers on the Centre are at present conducting trials on the product, which is about 80-90 per cent full.
Mr. Kwadwo Asare Agyei, Head, Public Relations and Marketing, CPMR, mentioned researchers are “seriously” engaged on the product to make sure its effectivity.
He mentioned the Centre was hopeful that the Government would undertake the product when it was prepared to assist stem deaths related to snakebites and deal with the repeated scarcity of anti-snake venom.
“We don’t joke with standardization. So, we want to make it a policy that whenever we are through (standardization) with this particular venom, Government will come on board, probably adopt the product and give it to the Ghanaian populace,” Mr. Agyei mentioned.
The World Health Organisation has thought of snakebite as a uncared for tropical illness that plagued rural communities.
The provide of anti-snake venom to well being services significantly these in rural communities has not been common over the years.
To make up for the scarcity, some rural of us resort to native treatments, together with ‘black stone’ which many imagine sucks the venom from a reptile chunk when placed on the wound.
In 2019 for example, Kwahu Afram Plains, a city within the within the Eastern Region recorded an increment in deaths from snakebites as a result of what medical officers described as delay in reporting the circumstances to hospitals after resorting to the usage of native concoctions.
The Presbyterian Hospital at Donkorkrom within the Kwahu Afram Plains North recorded 5 mortality circumstances from snakebites as in opposition to two in 2018, making snakebites the third explanation for demise on the Hospital as in comparison with 2018 when it was ranked tenth.
Mr. Agyei mentioned the CPMR was continuously researching into rising problem to information the event of environment friendly plant-based medicines.
He mentioned the acceptability of natural drugs improved after the COVID-19 pandemic, however known as for steady schooling and sensitisation to clear misconceptions about the usage of natural medicines.
“We have not lost focus on some of our products which have been taken to Noguchi to work on to see how effective we can work on the COVID-19; we are about 75-80 per cent through. It has proven to be very successful,” he mentioned.
In 2021, the CPMR was adjudged the excellent analysis and improvement Company (Herbal Medicine) on the Ghana Business Standard Awards for its diligence and work output.
The Centre additionally received the Herbal Company of the Year on the Ghana Pharma Awards the identical yr.
Mr. Agyei appealed to producers of natural merchandise to submit their merchandise to the Centre for high quality testing to fulfill regulatory requirements and make sure the security of customers.
“We are going to assist them (manufacturers) to run the necessary tests to secure their certificate. Acquiring the certificates will boost the public’s confidence in the products they are taking,” he mentioned.
