For more information…. Traditional Healing, Research and Development Presentation for the Portfolio Committee on Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

For more information…

Dr MG Matsabisa

MOTLALEPULA G. MATSABISA Manager

TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS (HEALTH)

South African Medical Research CouncilPO Box 19070Tygerberg 7505SOUTH AFRICA

Tel. +27 21 938 0480Fax. +27 21 938 0410

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.mrc.ac.za

Traditional Healing, Research and Development

Presentation for the Portfolio Committee

on

Arts, Culture, Science and Technology

S26 - First Floor NCOP wingParliament

Cape Town

September 3rd, 2002

LEGISLATURE

Parliament Portfolio Committee of Science and Technology

• Created National Advisory Group IKS

• Commissioned an IKS audit

• National/Regional workshops on IKS

• IKS Bill

• New Science Councils Programmes

• Appointed a purchasing agent for research (NRF)

SA TRADITIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM• Institutional

- 80% of population consult 300 000 traditional healers

- play significant role in community health and leadership

- not formally recognized

- lack of coordination and systems of validation and reaffirmation

- lack of understanding and tolerance by western doctors

• Knowledge and Resource Base

- 25 000 Bio-active plant species

- 500 years of indigenous/traditional knowledge

- sound scientific research and development base

- new drug leads (Malaria, TB, Immune modulator)

Utilization

- Industry ‘exploitation’

- Industry interested to form PPP’s (Public-Private Partnerships)

- No benefit sharing (ownership)

Medicinal Trade in South Africa

1988 – 19961988 – 1996 750 plant species used in 750 plant species used in TMTM

- 200 very infrequently traded- 200 very infrequently traded

(used by approx. 12-15 million people)

20 000t 20 000t medicinal plants medicinal plants traded/yeartraded/year - - US US$$60million60million

1996 1996 4300t of wildlife medicinals trade4300t of wildlife medicinals tradedd in in

KwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-Natal - - US US$$13.3million13.3million

19971997 750t traded in Mpumalanga750t traded in Mpumalanga – US$2.25million – US$2.25million

Animal products trade Cunningham (1993a)

Trade in animal products in South African per yeaTrade in animal products in South African per yearr

HippopotamusHippopotamus 109109 LionLion 42 42 Nile crocodileNile crocodile 38.738.7 African Rock PythonAfrican Rock Python 37.737.7 Striped weaselStriped weasel 3030 Monitor lizardMonitor lizard 27.827.8 Black mambaBlack mamba 1010

Nyamazane*Nyamazane* Ingredients primarily fish mealIngredients primarily fish meal 12.6t12.6t Vimbela*Vimbela* Ingredients of mythical beastsIngredients of mythical beasts 23.3t23.3t

Animal fats sold (litres/year) * Animal fats sold (litres/year) * Tonnes/yearTonnes/year

Mission of IKS (Health)

The IKS Centre supports the MRC goals and strategies The IKS Centre supports the MRC goals and strategies through harnessing of IKS for the equitable and fair benefit through harnessing of IKS for the equitable and fair benefit to the communities of practice. to the communities of practice.

Objectives (Goals) of IKS (Health)

    Facilitate Research & Development Facilitate Research & Development

To identify relevant research areas, develop proposals in partnership with stakeholders, source To identify relevant research areas, develop proposals in partnership with stakeholders, source funding, implement and manage research teams.funding, implement and manage research teams.

Develop IKS Research Support SystemsDevelop IKS Research Support Systems

To develop appropriate systems for: To develop appropriate systems for:

Validating the safety and efficacy of botanicals Validating the safety and efficacy of botanicals Intellectual property, equitable benefit sharing and information transfer Systems Intellectual property, equitable benefit sharing and information transfer Systems Attracting funds Attracting funds Identifying critical IKS-related research issues and developing action plans.Identifying critical IKS-related research issues and developing action plans.

Objectives cont.

Support Policy Formulation Support Policy Formulation

To assist the government and stakeholders in the formulation and development of national To assist the government and stakeholders in the formulation and development of national & regional policies for the utilization, protection and management of IKS (Health). & regional policies for the utilization, protection and management of IKS (Health).

To Assist in Commercialization of Health IKS To Assist in Commercialization of Health IKS

To facilitate the development of appropriate technology transfer and commercialization To facilitate the development of appropriate technology transfer and commercialization processes of structures for the equitable and fair utilization of IKS (Health) innovationsprocesses of structures for the equitable and fair utilization of IKS (Health) innovations

Objectives cont.

To play a leading advocacy role in promoting IKS (Health)To play a leading advocacy role in promoting IKS (Health) To promote the value/awareness and protection of beneficial scientifically To promote the value/awareness and protection of beneficial scientifically

verified traditional claims for cures.verified traditional claims for cures. To add value to knowledge baseTo add value to knowledge base To empower communities of practice (information)To empower communities of practice (information)

To develop functional IKS networks To develop functional IKS networks To develop and maintain functional networks to promote and advance IKS amongst various stakeholders To develop and maintain functional networks to promote and advance IKS amongst various stakeholders

including the following:including the following: Government through National Department of Health, DACST, Education, Agriculture Government through National Department of Health, DACST, Education, Agriculture IKS practitionersIKS practitioners FundersFunders Health Researchers (Universities, Science Councils)Health Researchers (Universities, Science Councils) Communities Communities Professional AssociationsProfessional Associations Institutions (Health & Development)Institutions (Health & Development) MRC StaffMRC Staff