News

On Friday, February 10th, 2023, FXB Rwanda in partnership with National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) launched the Phyto social enterprise (POSE) project which aims at increasing the production of herbal-based medicines and products for local and regional consumption.

In his remarks, the Director General of NIRDA Dr. Christain SEKOMO emphasized that the project is in line with the government of Rwanda’s will to develop, process, and enhance the quality of local herbal medicines to address the country’s burden of importing medicines and plant-based products from abroad.
Addressing the event participants, FXB Rwanda Legal Representative Damascene NDAYISABA said that FXB Rwanda and partners are more ready than ever to contribute to Rwanda’s Phytomedicine sector ‘ we have the willingness and the capacity to start Phyto social enterprise (POSE) project now, and we strongly believe to achieve the desired impacts. In partnership with NIRDA, the processing plan is there together with the research finding on the low material plants that we are going to start with,…very soon the products will be available and we believe in their expansion,…’ reaffirmed Damascene.
The main raised problem in the Rwandan phytomedicine sector is the approval and certification of research findings and plant-based medicines/products by Rwanda Food and Drug Authority (FDA). Replying to this inquiry, the Director General of NIRDA assured that NIRDA has started the discussions with FDA which will lead to the easy certification process ‘ We know the issue of certification, and our team is already in discussions with FDA, very soon we will have the better solution’ replied Dr. Christian.
In the initial phase, the Phyto social enterprise (POSE) project implementation will consist of supporting the cultivation of selected herbal plants in NIRDA’s land, multiplying their seeds, manufacturing and processing them into ointments, syrups, and herbal teas, selling the products and investing back in the process for improved project long-lasting impacts.

The POSE Project launching event was held in the hall of NIRDA’s research center located in Huye district, Southern province of Rwanda where the project will operate. The event was attended by representatives from Huye district, University of Rwanda, Rwanda Forensic Laboratory, the College of Agriculture, Animal sciences and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), the health sector, etc. They visited the NIRDA laboratory to witness the manufacturing process of medicinal plants into phytomedicines. After the launch, the participants also visited botanic garden where some low-material plants are cultivated.

FXB Rwanda and its partners would like to extend sincere gratitude to Augusta Foundation and FXB International for their support that is enabling the implementation of Phyto social enterprise (POSE) project. Thank you for your great contribution to the Phytomedicine sector in Rwanda.