Officials from two leading institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have confirmed the efficacy of Tetrapleura tetraptera, popularly known as ‘Prekese,’ in controlling hypertension, the leading cause of death in the country.
They are Food Research Institute (FRI) and Forestry Research Institute (FRI).
The heads of the two agencies, Prof Charles Tortoe of Food Research and Prof Daniel Ofori, of Forestry Research, made the confirmation when the Ministry of Science and Technology presented to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee yesterday (February 3).
Other agencies that appeared before the PAC include the Buildings and Roads Research Institute, the Land Research Institute, the Crops Research Institute, the National Population Council, the Ghana Aid Commission and the Ghana Supply Company.
Indigenous plants
Answering a question from the Chairman of PAC, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, about the health benefits of Prekese, Prof, Tortoe began by explaining that the plant is one of the native plants that can be found in the country.
“With the information about prekese, it is very good for health and we have obtained a study that also came out for people with hypertension, it is very good and controls (hypertension) and it works. .
“So in our facility, we have this product from our sister agency, the Forestry Research Institute, who gave us a sample that we sell and we have Prekese syrup that we sell in our store for the public to take,” he said. said.
Asked again by Dr Avedzi whether the product was produced in large quantities for access to members of the public, Prof Tortoe said it was produced at FRI in Kumasi and that FRI took samples from it to sell to the public.
Support
In response to a question from Dr. Avedzi about whether FRI needs support to produce more Prekese syrup, Prof. Ofori said yes, “please we need support to build a big facility and then we also need support to import some equipment we need. Prekese syrup processing.”
He said that if FRI can get facilities or support from government or private sector, it will definitely help.
He said that although there is Prekese syrup in the market produced by some individuals, “the quality that people have proved is that CSIR Prekese syrup is the best”
Confirmation
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Prof. Ofori noted that people using the syrup have confirmed improvement in their health conditions.
“So this is a confirmation from our clients and this also causes more people to come to ask the syrup to confirm that it has health benefits. But it is not sold as a medicine but as a food supplement,” he said.
Elaborating further, he said that the syrup has also received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the amount of the authority can be found.
“So that means it has passed the screening and been approved by the FDA,” he said, adding that what is needed now is capital to set up a large factory for large-scale production.
Asked if Prekese really reduces high blood pressure, Prof. Ofori gave a simple but instructive answer: “yes”.
Reduced fortune
Previously, Prof. Tortoe told the committee, among other things, that in 2019 under review, the agency’s commercialization surplus decreased due to challenges in commercial activities.
In particular, he said that it was due to the processing equipment because it used old equipment and had to overcome the challenge of deterioration.
Explain why FRI moved from surplus to deficit between 2017 and 2018, in response to questions from committee members, Sam George, Prof. Ofori said for 2018 donor funding is down.
In 2018 as well, he said the agency had to do a lot of repairs and maintenance.
The PAC has been sitting for two weeks to consider the Auditor-General’s report on the public accounts of public boards, companies and other statutory institutions for the year ending 2020.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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