Limpopo-born scientist developing plant-based bandage to revolutionise burn wound care

Burns-related deaths are a major global health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries, including those in Africa, and Dr Mapula Razwinani, a postdoctoral candidate at Durban University of Technology, is in the process of researching and developing a bandage that contains medicinal plant extracts for the treatment of burn wounds.

An estimated 180 000 deaths are caused by burns every year, most of which occur in low- and middle-income countries, including African and South-East Asia regions, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

And treating burn wounds comes at a cost. The WHO estimates that South Africa spends about US$ 26 million (R491 million) annually on the care of burns caused during paraffin-cookstove incidents.