By Seleoe Nonyane
Joalane Francina Mohale, who resides in Mazenod, Maseru is the manufacturer of Franjo Rub – a vapour rub that has quickly become very popular among Basotho.
This vapor rub is made using local medicinal plants, with extracts from the eucalyptus tree being the outstanding ingredient.
Eucalyptus is an evergreen tree that’s widely used for its medicinal properties. It can be used as an ingredient in many products, mostly to reduce the symptoms of coughs, colds and congestion. It also features in creams and ointments aimed at relieving muscle and joint pain.
The medicine was produced in 2021 and has gained a great deal of popularity among Basotho in a very short space of time.
Mohale told theReporter that the Franjo Rub, among its many benefits, is good with arthritis, muscle pain and chest and back pains.
“Franjo Rub is very good with arthritis. When one uses the rub it helps reduce the risk of developing the potentially debilitating disease that manifests itself by excruciating pain in the joints of the limbs. As a matter of fact, even if the user is already living with arthritis, the medicine cures it completely.
“It also a pain reliever therefore, it also helps with muscle and back pain,” she explained.
She said she was motivated to start producing the ointment after she came to the realization that arthritis is one of the most common illnesses in the country, and she wanted contribute towards finding Basotho a permanent solution to the illness.
Mohale also said when she first produced this medication she was only hoping to do so during the winter season. However, with time, her clients kept demanding more and more of Franjo Rub even in summer when it is warm.
It is in the light of this that the rubbing cream can now be found all year round.
Mohale is a Bsc in Nutrition graduate at the National University of Lesotho. After completing her studies, she was fully incubated at the NUL Innovation Hub
“I have a bouquet of other products that I make. Some will make it to the public soon. But, at the moment my products that have made it to the market are the Franjo Rub and Corn Silk Tea.
“As for what drove me to start this business, well it was the high unemployment rate in the country, nothing else.
“I did not get into the business because of love or passion but it was because of not being unemployed,” Mohale confessed.
When all is said and done, she is adamant that there is hope for job creation because now people have embraced the fact that it is possible after all, to create products domestically instead of relying on foreign products.
She added that her biggest and most immediate need right now is an extracting machine that will help her produce on a bigger scale.
No wonder she sees a bright future in her business.
Mohale can be contacted on +266 59888173
