By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Lugogo, Kampala-Uganda: Kazire is one of the partners with Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) showcasing at the ongoing 28th Edition of the International Trade Fair, 2022 at Lugogo Show Grounds.
Shadrack Atuhire, the Research and Development Coordinator at Kazire Health Products Limited (KHPL) stated that their focus is pharmaceutical development using local herbs and this has been effective with the help of the latter ministry through funding of their activities.
He revealed that they have so far produced Kazire Vidicine aimed at treating Flu and Cough and Kazire ALSATON for peptic ulcers.
“Such products are few on market because it takes vigorous medical criteria, commitment, persistence and hard work to develop a drug because at that level, it can be used in shops, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics country wide to treat diseases”. He stated.
He said that before, such drugs undergo clinical trials, monitored by National Drug Authority (NDA), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) after being developed by powerful institutions like Makerere University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).
He revealed that their medicine (Vidicine) is on stage two of clinical trials and ALSATON is taking the same direction and very soon will be officially certified to treat diseases in human.
Important to note.
Kazire Health Products Limited (KHPL) was incorporated in 2008 as a private limited company in Uganda deeply committed to improving the health wellbeing of people and their communities.
Established as a small entity to serve small communities, Kazire Health Products Limited has grown over the years and emerged quickly as a leader and quality provider of natural medicines, health beverages, fruits and root juices.
Atuhire sounded praises to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat for the collaboration that has enabled them execute their research in a comprehensive field of medicine production working with Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) that provided them with equipment.
He cited that the Secretariat has provided them with required funding in as regards their research interventions and all they may plead for is to increase staffing to boost innovations.
He also lauded Uganda Revenue Authority for exempting producers who use local raw materials from Local Excise Duty that has empowered them to increase local production without incurring straining costs.
Asked why they stick on use of natural products, Atuhire revealed that of late most natural plants seemed useless amongst Uganda’s population for example Aloe vera, cactus and others but their research spearheaded by Edward Kazire the CEO of the company found this valuable in treating diseases and since then they are lucrative.
“So far, we have invested over UGX 6 billion in Masindi where we are putting up a very big plantation for cactus, Aloe vera, lemon and other herbs to sustain the source of raw materials we use. This will enroll over 2,000 farmers around Masindi to sustain production”. He stated.
“Our production capacity is so far at 53% and this is why we encourage farmers around the plantation to grow more on these raw materials in order to have them readily available throughout the year”. He added.
He cited that local health products like kazire are now getting steady embracement amongst Ugandans as they now sell over 10,000 bottles of such a day which is an indication that people are slowly diverting from use of conventional medicine to herbal.
Emily Musimenta, a Pharmaceutical Scientist from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) said that her role is majorly drug development and discovery from stage one until the drug goes for clinical trials.
She stated that different drugs go through different stages, for example with ALSATON, we go to the lab after collecting plants and study them as this helps us to know the drug interaction with the body.
“After knowing this, the drug is tested in animals usually rats or mice to predict what would happen if subjected to human since they usually don’t differ”. She revealed.
She added that when subjected to humans, they are keen on noting down its effects on the body because the drug is meant to be used for many years ahead and this is done to prioritize human safety.
“The beauty with natural herbal medicine for example Aloe Vera, has different compounds where by each has different effects on human body compared to conventional medicine which may have only one compound”. She remarked.
She also noted that conventional medicine has seen a lot body resistance and this is to why there is a steady shift from its use to herbal medicine.
Musimenta mentioned Kazire Health Products Limited (KHPL) has for years lived by the theme of the 28th edition of the International Trade Fair, 2022 which is “Harnessing Economic Recovery through Local Sourcing and Deepening Value Chain Integration” because all their health products are sourced from natural herbs.