Background
Phyto Social Enterprise (POSE) project is implemented with the sake of producing the herbal medicinal products that are supportive to the users in Rwanda and other countries. The intervention was proposed not only for valorizing the Rwandan medicinal products by processing and producing the the products which would otherwise be supportive in curing and contributing to improved health, but also for contributing to their accessibility by investing in their increased availability on the market on affordable price.
Rwanda was 98% dependent to the importation of the medicines and over $ 100 million was spent on medicines acquisition from abroad in the one year of 2019. The government of Rwanda is in that line supportive to the interventions that are contributing and promoting the in-country production of medicines but also the pharmaceutical sector in general. In Rwanda, like in many other African countries, the herbal medicines are known to the traditional healers. While remaining supportive to the treatment of different diseases, the traditional healers lack the awareness of properties of active ingredients in these plants to base on them prescribing and their dosing do not follow the international or national standards.
FXB Rwanda Phyto Social Enterprise (POSE) project came in to give its contribution to modernizing the herbal medicinal production and making its products available and accessing to the community in need, especially the vulnerable communities who would only access it with the affordable pricing.
Current Situation
Phyto Social Enterprise (POSE) project is holding its production center in Huye, NIRDA research center. The cultivation of the medicinal plants is taking place to assure that these species are maintained and used as needed. The production of the herbal medicinal products, especially the ointment, syrup and herbal tea is taking place. The products are to be launched to the Rwandan market as soon as the preliminary processes get completed and they will take into consideration the affordability as well as accessibility aspects.
Project Strategies
Evidence Based Intervention : POSE project is leveraging the technologies and developments made in clinical sector to synergize with the community existing approaches while availing the herbal based medicines to the market.
Economic Opportunities Creation : One of the intent of the POSE project is to ensure that the contribution to FXB Rwanda’s existing model of helping the vulnerable population get put into practice. POSE project creates the opportunities for economic empowerment to vulnerable community through job opportunities provision.
Community Engagement and Collaboration : The project works with the health institutions, research centers, Rwanda regulating authorities and local government to assure this project’s good implementation.
