01 Oct, 2025
Akpe
0 Comment
TAGS
As part of efforts to strengthen research capacity and foster multidisciplinary research collaboration in combating NTDs, the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) of Institute of Health Research (IHR) at University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) partnered the Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine at UHAS School of Pharmacy (SOP) in a day’s workshop, held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at the University’s Central Administration Block at Sokode-Lokoe, Ho.
The researchers aimed at leveraging collective expertise in health research, pharmacognosy and herbal medicine in examining the potentials of local plant-based remedies in the treatment of NTDs, thereby bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and science-based evidence.
Professor Alexander Ansah Manu, Director of UHAS-IHR and Chaiman of the occasion, declared that the initiative which is meant to expand the scope of research in alternative medicine include the identification of local plant-based medicinal treatments, the subsequent establishment of the existence of scientific evidence in the remedies and outlining potential programmes of research for testing for efficacy, safety and other characteristics of the herbal remedies.
Professor Kwame Buabeng, the Dean of UHAS-SOP and Professor T.C. Fleischer, former Pro-Vice Chancellor, former Acting Dean of UHAS-SOP and currently a Professor in UHAS-SOP Department of Pharmacognosy, were present at the meeting and showed strong support for the initiative.
Dr. Alfred Manyeh, the Director of UHAS-IHR Centre for Communicable Diseases and Dr. Johnathan Jato, Lecturer at UHAS-SOP Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, made presentations at the meeting on the research focus of their respective outfits.
Also in attendance were faculty from UHAS-SOP and research fellows from UHAS-IHR.
The research collaboration drive is expected to enable UHAS to find valuable solutions to critical challenges associated with the treatment of NTDs in Ghana and beyond. 