Windhoek: Naturopathic doctor Penehafo Haitamba-Shindume on Monday cautioned that natural or traditional medicines are not always safe and urged the public to seek professional advice before combining herbal or nutritional supplements with prescribed medication. ‘Natural medicines, nutritional supplements and traditional remedies are also medicines, and they also pose health risks. Nature doesn’t always mean safe,’ she said.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Haitamba-Shindume warned that many patients use herbal products such as moringa or omega-3 oils alongside prescription medicines without informing their doctors, which can cause dangerous drug-herb interactions. She emphasized that medication safety is a responsibility shared by patients, healthcare workers, and regulators, urging the public to verify information before taking any product and report adverse reactions.

Further adding to this, NMRC’s Medicine Information and Safety Pharmacist, Frieda Shigwedha, stated that the campaign encourages people to report all side effects from any medicine, whether prescribed or natural, to build a national database for improved regulation. ‘You can report to your nearest healthcare facility, healthcare professional, or directly to the NMRC offices,’ Shigwedha said.

Intern pharmacist Fudeni Ndahangoudja from the Ministry of Health and Social Services noted that young health professionals are using digital tools such as interaction checkers and dosage systems to improve patient safety.