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The Herald, 30 January 1993
THE toxicology department at the University of Zimbabwe yesterday launched the Zimbabwe Toxicology Society to promote research and training into poisoning and its prevention.
“The society is the first of its kind in Africa and we will provide much-needed information and training on the different forms of poisoning for the benefit of the community,” newly elected president of the society Professor Charles Nhachi, said in an interview.
The society would work at the primary health care level to deal with poisoning due to traditional medicines, food environmental pollution, drug abuse, pesticides and various other forms.
The launch of the society had resulted from a five-day workshop run annually by the department and, sponsored by Swedish and German organisations.
“The society would work in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to ensure that recommendations from the society would be adopted by the relevant medical authorities,” Prof Nhachi said.
The society is to produce a bi-annual bulletin with information on toxicology which would be edited by Dr Mark Obwolo, a senior lecturer in the department of community veterinary studies.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Toxicology, toxins, detoxification or detox have become part of our lingua franca. What do they mean, and what are their implications in a world that continues to produce and consume toxic products, knowingly and unknowingly?
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “toxicology is a field of science that helps us understand the harmful effects that chemicals, substances or situations can have on people, animals and the environment..
Toxicology is also referred to as the “science of safety” since it has “evolved from a science focused on studying poisons and adverse effects of chemical exposures to a science devoted to studying safety”.
Meanwhile, detoxification (detox) is “a process of giving medical treatment to someone in order to remove the effects of poisoning from drugs or alcohol”.
That Prof Nhachi was elected first president of the society is commendable since he is a respected clinical pharmacologist with an impressive curriculum vitae in research, training and publishing.
Although collaborative work is commendable in research and publishing, it is not sustainable to start a national programme of this nature with donor funds.
Of late, there has been an influx of medicines brought into the country through illegal means and sold illegally. There has also been an upsurge in the sale and use of natural herbs. What is the role of the toxicology department in ensuring that the environment does not continue to be poisoned?
Online Reporter