The
Moringa plant is native to Africa and
Northern India, where it was first described around 2000 BC as a medicinal
herb. It was used for treatment of conditions ranging in severity from minor
skin blemishes to more serious illnesses like asthma, high blood pressure and
heart disease, ulcers and kidney stones, as well as respiratory illnesses like
tuberculosis. Moringa was also knowns
as the Miracle tree. The Moringa tree
spread eastward from India to the lower parts of China, Southeast Asia and the
Philippines.
Picture of Moringa tree with seed pods
This tree has in recent times
been advocated for, as an outstanding indigenous source of bio-active protein
coagulant, suitable for treatment of drinking water. For example, in the Western
Part of Africa, one of the best-known applications for Moringa oleifera is the use of powdered seeds to flocculate
contaminants and purify drinking water, but the seeds are also eaten green,
roasted, powdered and steeped for tea or used in curries.
A commendable population
in the world, mostly living in the rural communities of developing countries
lack access to water of required quality standards as recommended by WHO. The
problem is accelerated by the lack of affordable water treatment technologies. The
consequences of drinking inferior quality water have resulted in outbreaks of
water borne diseases, mostly diarrhoea, cholera and dysentery. Deadly typhoid
outbreaks have also been reported in the outskirts of Uganda’s capital city of
Kampala in late 2014.
Such realities are what should drive researchers today to search for natural
and affordable options of water treatment technologies. Moringa oleifera could be one of the lasting solutions to
improvement of water quality at decentralised community level. Given the
multipurpose applications of this plant, and its strong adaptability to
tropical and sub-tropical climates, most African countries may adopt the use of
this natural coagulant if its application gets well researched.
We should therefore
spearhead and disseminate information to the implementing authorities of
different governments to priotise and promote use of natural coagulants like Moringa oleifera in decentralised water
treatment plants or at homestead level.
Ronald
Katalo (Uganda)
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| Picture of Moringa tree with seed pods |
Such realities are what should drive researchers today to search for natural and affordable options of water treatment technologies. Moringa oleifera could be one of the lasting solutions to improvement of water quality at decentralised community level. Given the multipurpose applications of this plant, and its strong adaptability to tropical and sub-tropical climates, most African countries may adopt the use of this natural coagulant if its application gets well researched.
