UFS professor joins the WHO Covid-19 Advisory Committee
Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa. Picture: supplied.
Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa is set to lead Africa’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic with his appointment as chairperson of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicines for Covid-19.
An associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS), Matsabisa was chosen among 25 other experts from 27 African countries.
The committee is supported by the African Union (AU), the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC – Africa), and the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
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This committee was established by the WHO and CDC – Africa with the aim of providing independent scientific advice and support to countries on the safety, efficacy, and quality of traditional medicine therapies.
It is also an effort to enhance research and development of traditional medicines for Covid-19 in Africa.
“I have taken this position and responsibility, knowing quite well what it entails. I want to do this for the continent, and for the sake of good science of all traditional healers and consumers of traditional medicines on the continent and beyond,” says Matsabisa.
According to Prof Matsabisa, he is looking forward to working with a team of dedicated experts from 27 countries in the African region, and being of help to countries that need assistance with clinical trials, including preclinical work to move to clinical research.
