Lerato Mpobane
Lerato Mpobane is multifaceted, balancing her role as a mother, wife, Traditional Health Practitioner, Research Consultant, and PhD candidate. Her research, titled “An Investigation into the Utilisation of African Traditional Medicine for the Treatment and Management of Female Infertility in South Africa,” addresses critical gaps in data concerning traditional diagnostic and treatment options for women with infertility. The central thread of the research, female infertility, finds expression through an interrogation of colonial and apartheid-era policies that undermined traditional health practitioners (THPs), insights from interviews with THPs and women with infertility revealing the diverse diagnostic and treatment modalities and the examination of key factors influencing treatment-seeking behaviours, including cost, treatment effectiveness, and cultural alignment. Central to Lerato’s research is an attempt to advance the discourse in integrating traditional and biomedical healthcare paradigms into the South African public health system.
Phumzile B P Afrika
Phumzile Botle Puleng Afrika completed her MSc in Biological Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the School of Life Sciences at Westville campus with expertise in cellular biology, molecular biology, and ecotoxicology. Her love for nature and helping people inspires her interest in integrative medicine and naturopathy which has led her to pursue and complete a medical missionary course and take interest in naturopathy and use her acquired knowledge and skills to support those suffering from different ailments. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Discipline of Traditional Medicine, where her research study focus is the in vitro evaluation of the safety and antimicrobial properties of a traditional herbal medicine against Neisseria gonorrhoea and Trichomonas vaginalis. Her desire is to contribute to the advocacy of the integration of traditional healing practices into modern healthcare systems through scientific research.
Supervisors: Prof Nceba Gqaleni (Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa)
Dr Mlungisi Ngcobo (Traditional Medicine, School of Nursing & Public Health, UKZN)
Dr Sibusiso Senzani (School of Laboratory Medicine
Vusi Masemola
Vusi Masemola ,holds a bachelors degree in Nursing from university of Pretoria, A Masters in psychiatry from Sefako Makgatho Health science University, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Northwest University & Certificate of finance for Non Finance Managers at University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN). Currently doing PhD in public health (UKZN). Current research for PhD is on collaboration between traditional health practice and the mental health care system. Have been at the public sector for more than 10 years.
Research interest
.Public health systems and policies
.Health science Service Research.
.Indigenous knowledge system.
.Mental illness
Sanele Mhlungu
Sanele Mhlungu holds a Master of Medical Science in Medical Virology, a BSc Honours degree in Medical Microbiology, and a BSc degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the Discipline of Traditional Medicine. His research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of Cannabis sativa in treating cervical cancer using advanced laboratory models. This groundbreaking research has the potential to provide cannabis-based therapies as an alternative treatment option for cervical cancer, contributing to innovative solutions in cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Boitumelo Setlhare
Boitumelo Setlhare completed a degree of B.Sc. Microbiology at the University of The Free State (UFS) majored in Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. She got an opportunity through National Research Foundation (NRF) as a Microbiology intern and was based at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the Biosciences (Bioprocessing unit) at Pretoria. Exposure to industry increased her interest in science, she then furthered her studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal by doing B.Sc. (Honours) Microbiology and M.Sc. in Microbiology. Her interest in Traditional Medicine stems from witnessing these medicines being administered to people who had different ailments when she was still growing up, this led to her curiosity and to undertake Doctoral studies in this field. Her project focuses on the evaluation of in vitro effects of Product Nkabinde on immune response and HIV replication capacity. She is also evaluating the effects of traditional medicine on the coinfection of HIV and Chlamydia Trochomatis.
Supervisors:
Dr. Mlungisi Ngcobo, Traditional Medicine, School of Nursing & Public Health, UKZN
Dr. Sinaye Ngcapu, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa
Prof Nceba Gqaleni, Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
Andisiwe Canca
Andisiwe Canca holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a Master’s degree in Health and Human Services Management. She is currently a PhD candidate in Public Health, with her research focusing on the Economic Evaluation of the Chronic Medicines Adherence Programme and the Implications of the Interface between Indigenous African and Allopathic Healthcare Systems in Patients Receiving Antiretrovirals. Andisiwe’s research aims to contribute valuable insights into the intersection of economic policies, healthcare systems, and indigenous medical practices, focusing on improving patient adherence to chronic medication.
Sphamandla Hlatshwayo
Sphamandla Hlatshwayo is a PhD candidate at the University of Kwa Zulu – Natal in the Traditional Medicine Laboratory. He obtained the following degrees from the University of Kwa Zulu – Natal; Master of Medical Science (Public Health), Bachelor of Medical Science Honours (Physiology) and Bachelor of Medical Science. Sphamandla’s research interest include preparations of African traditional medicines using modern scientific methods to prepare potent herbal formulations and the use of African traditional medicines in the treatment of endocrinological diseases. As a PhD candidate he has contributed to the publication of the following peer reviewed papers;
He has also presented his research work in The 23rd International Congress of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology & the 2nd International Congress of the African Phytomedicine Scientific Society (ISE-APSS 2024) which was hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa from 23-26 October 2024. He has received grants from the CHS Scholarship award, Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA), National Research Foundation (NRF) and Moses Kotane Institute (MKI).
Khanyisile Mngomezulu
Khanyisile Mngomezulu holds a Master of Medical Science in Medical Microbiology, BSc Honours degree in Medical Microbiology and BSc degree in Microbiology and Genetics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the Discipline of Traditional Medicine. Her research project focuses on finding traditional medicinal plants with the ability to reactivate latent HIV using laboratory models. This research has the potential to resolve one of the last stumbling blocks to treatment of HIV, which is the inability of highly active antiretroviral therapy to clear HIV copies in latently infected immune cells.
Nokukhanya Thembane
Nokukhanya Thembane is a certified Medical Technologist, specializing in Clinical Pathology. She has since transitioned to academia. Her research interests are in the indigenous knowledge systems of South Africa, specifically medicinal plants and plant derived products; the biochemistry, safety validation, potential efficacy, and subsequent application in disease prevention and management.
Siboniso Sithole
Siboniso Sithole is a biological and medical scientist interested in breast cancer and wound healing treatment using African traditional medicine (ATM). He is interested in studying the efficacy and safety ATM products from THPs that are used for promoting fast wound healing. Siboniso completed a BSc Hons degree in biological sciences. He completed his master’s degree at the University of KwaZulu- Natal, his research topic focused on an in vitro immunomodulatory and anticancer potential of ATMs products. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at the above-mentioned institute. His research aimed at developing traditional medicine products from the THPS by evaluating their mechanism of action, especially those used for wound healing. Thus, reducing heavy financial burden to healthcare systems. His research work contributed to improve knowledge regarding traditional medicine in various conference. Other research interest includes treatment of cervical cancer, diabetic wounds and plant biotechnology. As an NRF intern placed at the Technology Innovation Agency, he developed interest in innovative products that will potential have social and economic impacts. He mentored his fellow master’s students at traditional medicine laboratory.