Project Status
Completed Project — Phase I
The Traditional Herbal Medicine Project was initiated to scientifically evaluate, standardize and improve traditional herbal medicines commonly used in Zanzibar — with the long-term goal of producing safe, effective and scientifically-validated medicinal products that may be supplied locally and internationally.
The project aligns strongly with national health priorities, the Blue Economy agenda, and SUMAIT University strategies for innovation-led income generation and financial sustainability.
Project Goals
- To conduct scientific screening and validation of traditional herbal medicines
- To improve, optimize and standardize effective traditional remedies
- To develop capsule and tablet formulations for priority diseases
- To generate sustainable institutional income through ethical commercialization
- To enhance access to safe alternative medicines
Phase I — Completed Successfully
Phase I focused on data collection and scientific assessment of traditional herbal medicine practices in Zanzibar. Data was collected from:
- Traditional practitioners
- Consumers
- Regulatory authorities
Analysis confirmed a growing community demand for herbal medicines — especially for treatment of:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Diarrhea
- Infectious diseases
- Gastric & stomach-related conditions
Promising remedies were shortlisted for laboratory development and product formulation. Regulatory bodies — including MUHAS and the Zanzibar Alternative Medicine Unit — endorsed the production of prototype remedies.