Traditional medicine, particularly herbal remedies have been an integral resource for health for millennia in communities around the world, and it is still a mainstay for some with inequities in access to conventional medicine. They have made significant contributions to human health through their health promotive, curative and rehabilitative properties and in the prevention of illnesses. Many herbal medicines used traditionally have become modern medicines through drug development - morphine, aspirin, and artemisinin are some notable examples. Yet, herbal medicine is not fully acceptable and integrated in mainstream medicine. This talk focuses on proposing a strategy for harnessing the potential contribution of traditional medicine in healthcare– supported by modern science and principles of scientific validation. DEVINA LOBINE is an enthusiastic bio-scientist. Her research interest is centered on ethno-pharmacology, drug discovery and development on non-communicable diseases. She holds a degree in Agricultural Biotechnology and PhD in the field of Natural Products. Devina has several years of practical and applied experience in various fields of life sciences and has authored/co-authored over 60 publications. She was awarded the 2020 Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents-L'Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science prize for her research work. As Science leader, Devina is passionately engaged on numerous projects and activities related to STEM agenda. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
