Business

New capsules to ease your pain

Published

7 years ago

December 8, 2017

ROMA – A SENIOR lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at the National University of Lesotho (NUL), ’Maseabata Ramathebane, has developed two pharmaceutical capsules. You will soon have an opportunity to lay your hands on them.
In the process, you might find a product that soothes your pains and diabetes, eases your cough and act against your high blood.
Something interesting is brewing in Lesotho.

Zealous traditional medicine advocates are producing untested oral herbal formulations and selling them en masse in the streets.
Standing by the sidelines with acute interest in the concoctions is the NUL pharmacist, Ramathebane.
“Most of these formulations are bulky preparations, their dosing is imprecise, they expire quickly and the amount of active ingredient is not standard for formulations of the same type, and they experience poor storage conditions,” Ramathebane said.
But don’t be quick to judge — there is hope!

“Improving such formulations by creating their solid dosage forms would make them more pharmaceutically acceptable,” she said.
Here is how the story unfolded.
Some people who make a traditional medicine in the name of “Ha Ba Chake,” which, when translated, could mean, “Let them Take a Visit,” crossed the borders of the School in the Roma Valley.

The traditionalists introduced their medicine which, they claimed, would cause you to leave your sickbed and “take a visit,” apparently to your friends.
They wanted Ramathebane to test their product so that it could be acceptable to the market.
As time would prove, they made a wise decision.

But Ramathebane had a different idea on the approach.
It should not be just about testing.
They first had to disclose what it was that had to be tested, in a confidential manner, and a signed agreement was drawn, such that if necessary, the medicine could be improved before being tested.
They disclosed.*

“I realized that a lot of work still had to be done,” she said.
More importantly, she learned about the plant that was used in the medicine, whose compounds formed the active ingredient.
So she immediately consulted one NUL botanist to identify the plant, which grows liberally in Lesotho, and once identified, “me and my team started making a thorough research about this plant”.

In their literature review, they found that extensive pharmacological studies had shown the plant as having a suite of properties including anti-nociceptive, cardio protective, antioxidant, antigenotoxic, vasorelaxant, gastro protective, antispasmodic, immunomodulating, antioedematogenic, anti-diabetic properties and anti-dyslipidaemic effects.

At one time, they found out, the plant was used in a cough mixture in the UK, and it was later abandoned, only to be resuscitated later as one of the highly regarded medicinal plants there.
It has been revealed that the plant’s active ingredient has properties similar to that of atenolol in treating hypertension and glibenclamide in treating diabetes.

That is not all. The active ingredient has been found to rank in between morphine and brufen in its ability as a pain reliever, morphine being at the top of the list. The pharmacists then went into the laboratory, first to identify and confirm the active ingredient in the plant and then to extract the active ingredient.

Several methods of extraction were used and extraction by maceration produced the greatest yield.
“Interpretation of FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of the active ingredient in the extract before and after it was formulated into a capsule,” Ramathebane said.

Now time came for the improvement of this medicine.
First the researchers had to go back to the basics as a starting point.
The sensory part is the most obvious, the medicine was extremely bitter, as most of you who has ever tasted traditional medicine may testify.
So Ramathebane and the team “improved the taste without adding sugar to keep the medicine acceptable for some forms of ailments.”
And, you might have already thought about this, some of these mixtures look quite un-appealing for something that has to go through your mouth.
“So we also worked on improving the color.”

Now the mixture would appear and feel better to the consumer.
However, getting the mixture into a powder and in capsules with a strict control of the right amount of active ingredient was the last and most important part they would do for now.

This would certainly improve the shelf-life.
“We are still working on the appearance of the capsules to make them more appealing as well, we are not yet there,” Ramathebane said.
Are there any clinical trials planned for this medicine?
There is no suitable law in Lesotho supporting clinical trials besides the 1973 public health order.
The law is obsolete however.

It would be good to do clinical trials in other countries where there are relevant laws and preparations are underway.
Therefore the route to be taken is to follow the traditional product path.
“Even though clinical trials are long and expensive processes, getting a product registered as a pharmaceutical product is our dream however, medicine bill is still on the shelve to be passed as act of parliament, which after becoming an act will facilitate registration of this product once it has passed through the clinical trials,” she said.

However, two things are worth noting: “Plenty of studies in reputable academic journals have already been published about the efficacy of this plant in addressing a few ailments,” Ramathebane said.
Second, the medicines are already there in Lesotho’s markets, people are already consuming the medicines.
What is more important than making sure that the medicines are, at least, safe and, to some degree, do what they are claimed to do?
*Ingredients in the capsules are still confidential pending the final product.

Own Correspondent

Business

Take a Break from Summer

Published

1 month ago

December 18, 2024

The Post

Press release for KFC Lesotho

Date: Monday, 16 December 2024

Summer, what a wonderful time of year…

When influencing gets too much

When the news cycle gets too much

When the endless queues get too much

When the shopping chaos gets too much

When the unavailable transport gets too much

When the holiday work shifts get too much

When the lawn mowing gets too much

When the loud music gets too much

When the traffic gets too much

When the relentless schedule gets too much

When the heatwaves get too much

When the weather warnings get too much

When the suntan lines get too much

When the ever-growing laundry pile gets too much

When the festivities get too much

When the 2025 university applications get too much

When the guests overstaying their welcome gets too much

When the social media mayhem gets too much

When the out of sync traffic lights get too much

When the New Year resolutions get too much

When the travel expenses get too much

When reapplying sunscreen gets too much

When the packing and unpacking gets too much

When the photo-taking gets too much

When the flies get too much

When the pool maintenance gets too much

When the fully booked airlines get too much

When the mosquito bites get too much

When the fishing trips get too much

When the baking gets too much

When the road trip stops get too much

When the sand in the car gets too much

When the picnic ants get too much

When the papa and morogo get too much

When the braai smoke gets too much

When the television shows get too much

When the homemade cooking gets too much

When the hot car seats get too much

When the outdoor markets get too much

When the air-conditioning bills get too much

When the nature hikes get too much

When the garden-watering gets too much

When the hot sidewalks get too much

When the bike rides get too much

When the late nights get too much

When the impromptu trips get too much

When the 4×4 rides get too much

When the golf games get too much

When the ice cube trays get too much

When the late-night crickets get too much

When the entertaining gets too much

When the bumpy boat rides get too much

When the paddleboarding gets too much

When the public pool crowds get too much

When the lack of parking gets too much

When the summer internships get too much

When all you need is a breather

You have made it to the end. Take a break from summer with KFC Lesotho on Saturday, 21 December, a day to pause, refresh, and savour the start of holiday mode. Swing by KFC for a taste of summer and officially step into the holidays, recharged and ready. See you there!

Discover KFC’s Summer Delights!

KFC Summer Twisters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVlAX00WROU

KFC Summer Krushers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpCn-tFYrls

KFC Summer Buckets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbiOjRR58UA

End.

About KFC Africa

KFC has been in South Africa for over 53 years and has more than 1,300 stores across the country. The first KFC restaurant in South Africa opened in 1971 in Orange Grove, Johannesburg. KFC is the leading quick-service restaurant brand in South Africa with just under a third of market share, according to Brand Image Tracker. KFC serves more than 20 million customers a month and we work hard to ensure that no matter which of our restaurants they walk into, they will get that distinctive KFC flavour and have a great experience. KFC’s Original Recipe® Chicken was first made by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1940 when he perfected his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices at his restaurant in Kentucky. Today, KFC is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant, still preparing our chicken with the Colonel’s secret recipe to his exact standards. Every KFC restaurant follows the same global processes and procedures to ensure that our customers get great-tasting food, every time.

KFC Lesotho socials:

Instagram – @kfclesotho – https://www.instagram.com/kfclesotho/

Facebook – KFC Lesotho – https://www.facebook.com/LesothoKFC

X – @KFC_Lesotho – https://x.com/KFC_Lesotho

Business

Demystifying death benefit nomination

Published

1 month ago

December 16, 2024

The Post

I recently attended a trustee training session, and it sparked a thousand of opinions and emotions to fellow trustees and principal officers.

It is remarkable how people approach their pension funds with a blend of care and chaos — carefully watching contributions grow but leaving the aftermath of their departure to luck and a roomful of trustees.

With the Pension Fund Act (PFA) 2024 in place, requiring members to fill out and update death benefit nomination forms annually, one would think the process is foolproof.

Yet, we find ourselves navigating the maze of member reluctance and the emotional minefield that comes with deciding who gets what.

The PFA 2024 makes an elegant appeal to order, asking pension fund members to take charge of their legacy by nominating beneficiaries.

But, instead of pens gliding over forms, there is hesitation, resistance, and in some cases, outright abstinence.

What should be a simple administrative act seems to invoke existential dread or, worse, familial politics.

When Nomination Feels Like Negotiation

One of the most notable trends is the discomfort married members feel at the mere suggestion of allocating 50% of their death benefit to a spouse.

For clarity, the PFA does not say they must — but logic and love might.

However, these conversations often spiral into arguments over “what ifs.”

What if the marriage does not last?

What if the spouse uses the money “irresponsibly”?

What if leaving an equal share to children or a secret favourite nephew makes more sense?

These “what ifs” often lead to another troubling “what if”: what if no nomination is made at all?

Emotions run high.

Sometimes, the process of completing the form turns into a reflection of unresolved family tensions, where the form itself becomes a battlefield for hypothetical posthumous power plays.

Trustees, meanwhile, are left to pick up the pieces, making discretionary decisions that almost always leave someone unhappy.

What the Law Actually Says

Let us address the elephant in the room.

The PFA does not dictate that anyone’s spouse, child, or distant cousin must receive a cent.

The law requires you to nominate beneficiaries but leaves the who and how much entirely up to you.

And yet, myths persist, leaving members to believe they are bound to make obligatory allocations.

This misunderstanding is not just inconvenient; it is entirely unnecessary.

The beauty of the PFA lies in its simplicity: nominate someone — anyone — so your trustees don’t have to piece together your
wishes based on tea leaves, distant

relatives, or that one time you mentioned something in passing to a colleague.

The Real Cost of Silence

If leaving decisions to trustees sounds romantic — think noble strangers making wise decisions — let me assure you, it’s not.

Trustees do their best with the tools they have, but without a completed nomination form, their decisions are guided by discretion rather than your explicit intentions.

And discretion, noble as it sounds, often breeds disputes.

Disgruntled beneficiaries are not just an unfortunate byproduct of silence; they are its loudest consequence.

Without clear instructions, your death benefits might fund lawsuits instead of legacies.

Is that truly the financial wisdom you have cultivated over a lifetime of disciplined contributions?

Completing the Form: The Act of Taking Control

Filling out the nomination form isn’t just compliance; it is an act of empowerment.

It’s the financial equivalent of saying, “I trust myself to make the best decisions for my loved ones.”

It’s an opportunity to assert control over your life’s earnings and ensure they benefit those you deem most deserving.

Let us put it plainly: by completing this form, you eliminate guesswork, prevent disputes, and protect your loved ones from unnecessary turmoil.

You also spare trustees from playing Solomon with your assets — a responsibility they never asked for but inherit when you opt for avoidance.

It is not that deep!

For all the effort we pour into overthinking, let’s consider the alternative — actually completing the form.

You’ve already made harder decisions, like choosing between investment portfolios or deciding on your retirement age.

Writing down a name or two, alongside their allocations, is, comparatively, a walk in the park.

And for those of you abstaining because “it’s complicated,” let us reflect: is it more complicated than the potential legal battles, heartache, and chaos that might follow your departure?

Or are we simply procrastinating because planning for death feels uncomfortably final?

Your Legacy, Your Way

At the heart of it all, filling out the nomination form isn’t about complying with a law or appeasing trustees.

It is about ensuring your legacy aligns with your wishes.

It is about giving your loved ones clarity and peace of mind when they need it most.

So, grab that pen.

Fill in that form.

It might not be the most exciting thing you do today, but it could very well be the most meaningful.

After all, if you’ve spent years building a financial future, why let your final act of planning be defined by inaction?

Teboho Makoetlane

Business

More US funding for development projects

Published

2 months ago

December 2, 2024

The Post

MASERU-THOMAS Hines, the US Embassy’s interim head, has applauded Lesotho for passing the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)’s scorecard, paving way for continued development funding.

The MCC is providing assistance to Lesotho to strengthen good governance, economic freedom and investments in the country, managed by the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA-Lesotho Compact II).

The MCC donated US$300 million (approximately M5.4 billion) for health and horticulture development.

For the country to qualify, it had to pass the MCC’s scorecards.

Hines told Prime Minister Sam Matekane on Tuesday at the State House that the good news is that Lesotho passed, although there are some other things the country has to improve.

For this year, the passing indicators are girls’ primary education completion rate, natural resource protection, land rights and access and fiscal policy.

Indicators that slipped below the pass rate are government effectiveness and freedom of information.

“Of MCC’s 76 scorecards, only 26 countries passed while 50 did not and the good news is that Lesotho once again passed the scorecard,” Hines said.

He said not only did Lesotho pass but it has also improved from passing 15 indicators last year to 17 of 20 indicators this year.

Hines said the accomplishment reflects Matekane and his government’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance and fostering prosperity.

“Noting the decline in control of corruption indicator, we seek avenues to do more together with Lesotho to combat corruption,” he said.

“Not only does regression in this area put Lesotho at risk of failing the scorecard we also know the corrosive impact of corruption on the economy and society.”

He said they seek to maximise the compact’s ability to ensure greater access to quality healthcare.

Matekane said the scorecards assess the government’s performance in key areas throughout the year to determine the continuing eligibility regarding MCC compact funding.

He said last year he urged the cabinet to build on the momentum from 15 out of 20 indicators.

“Let me take this opportunity to celebrate our sustained achievement of passing 17 out of 20 indicators which is a 10 percent increase from last year,” Matekane said.

“Specifically, I committed last year to ensure that Lesotho will submit data to support the assessment of girl’s primary education completion rate,” he said.

He said he was pleased with the progress overall and on gender parity in education and they aim to achieve better results next year.

In addition to this, he said, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially around trade policy, government effectiveness and particularly the freedom of information with a notable decline from 83 percent down to 43 percent.

“Our commitment to control and eliminate corruption remains steadfast. We are working tirelessly to expose corrupt activities, keeping the public sector honest and accountable,” he said.

“The commitment we have made of investing in our people has never wavered over the years and the government is also focused on improving access to quality health services to every Mosotho regardless of their background and location,” he said.

Moipone Makhoalinyane