"In the morning, you can chew the leaves to boost your energy throughout the day"
“I always serve my guests a meal or drink that is infused with moringa,” reveals Maimuna Saad Abdulrahim. A simple act of philanthropy that involved sponsoring a student to join Kisauni Polytechnic changed the trajectory of her life. This happened when Maimuna had just taken early retirement after working for 19 years at the Bank of Baroda.
She was appointed to be a board member representing the Muslim community. In that position, which she held for 13 years, she had a great impact on the institution. She is the one who is credited with the greening of the institution.
At Kisauni Polytechnic, Maimuna met John Kingsley, a volunteer with Volunteer Service Oversees (VSO), who linked her with various capacity-building training, particularly on moringa. One of the trainings was through watching a film explaining the different benefits of moringa and how to cook its leaves, seeds, and powder. This triggered her interest in the plant. She also got trained by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Trade, getting a Trainer of Trainer Certification on moringa.
Moringa Journey
Maimuna has always loved to read about women’s health, which made it easier for her to identify her symptoms of menopause. Some of the symptoms were back pain, irregular menstruation, headaches, mood swings, hyperactivity, and irregular sleeping patterns.
There are many ways to manage menopause symptoms, such as lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, mental wellness, getting enough rest, and regular exercise. At times, women may need hormone therapy.
For Maimuna, she opted for a natural remedy and discussed it with her doctor. This is when she incorporated moringa into her diet. “I had many symptoms, and when I used moringa, I eliminated them one by one,” she says. For a decade now, she has been using moringa.
Maimuna has planted a dozen moringa trees in her compound, and she shares the leaves, flowers, and fruits with her neighbours. She also uses the herb to help those ailing in her community. As a professional practitioner tapping into moringa’s medicinal value (for that is what her interest has turned into), she diligently documents everyone she has helped and how the plant has impacted their health.
She has been prescribing moringa to manage constipation, skin conditions, menopause symptoms, back problems, and malnutrition in children. “If you have any health issues, you can use moringa to manage it before seeking specialized treatment,” she says.
Maimuna constantly researches how different communities use moringa, acknowledging the plant’s diverse application across cultures.
Maimuna advises women to always have moringa seeds, green moringa powder, and dried leaves in their houses. The products can be incorporated in meals such as smoothies, tea, stew, and soup. “In the morning, you can chew the leaves to boost your energy throughout the day,” she adds.
Sample Recipes:
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Nourishing Breakfast:
Ingredients – eggs, moringa flowers, and onions.
Mix all ingredients and fry with oil on medium-low heat till cooked. Serve with tomatoes on the side. -
Vegetable Soup:
Ingredients – potatoes, onions, bell pepper, black pepper, and moringa fruits.
Procedure – peel the moringa fruit, chop the potatoes, onions, and bell pepper. Boil all the ingredients together for 10 minutes, then add black pepper to taste. Let it cool and blend.
With all the benefits of moringa, Maimuna challenges us to embrace its use for healthy living.
