About Us

The AfriTox poisons information database is compiled, maintained and distributed by the Poisons Information Centre which is based at Red Cross Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Red Cross Children’s Hospital Poisons Information Centre is staffed by medical doctors and specially trained pharmacists, and is dedicated to providing up-to-date, well-researched and peer-reviewed information on a wide spectrum of toxins, including locally available commercial products and South African poisonous plants and animals.

Our poisons centre provides advice on the prevention, diagnosis and management of poisoning in both adults and children. The centre is part of the UCT Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and is situated in the Institute of Child Health at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. We produce the AfriTox® poisons information database which is widely distributed to doctors and treatment facilities in Southern Africa and it underpins the Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape. This emergency telephone service is available 24 hours a day, both to the public and to medical professionals. It allows fast access to accurate information immediately after poisoning is suspected or confirmed so that a patient can be treated appropriately and effectively.

The Poisons Information Centre has an interesting history. More information can be found on the University of Cape Town's website here.

The AfriTox Team

Our work is very much a team effort.

AfriTox helps doctors in Southern Africa treat patients exposed to any substance in our region. It focuses on local medicines and commercial products (using South African trade names), local plants, bites and stings. The treatment protocols are tailored to local conditions, are clearly presented and easy to interpret.

Dr. Bradley Browne

Dr. Bradley Browne is a paediatrician with a special interest in clinical toxicology. After completing his undergraduate training at UCT, he spent time working in rural KZN. Motivated to understand more about the determinants of health, in 2016 he completed an MSc in International Health and Tropical Medicine at Oxford University, after which he returned to South Africa to specialise in paediatrics. He holds an Mmed in paediatrics, and diplomas in child health and tropical medicine. Bradley is the current director of the Red Cross Children's Hospital Poisons Centre, overseeing all its functions, and a practicing paediatrician in the emergency department. His vision is to reduce the impact of poisonings in South Africa by improving clinical care and prevention.

Dr. Kate Balme

Dr. Kate Balme did her medical training at the University of Cape Town. Thereafter, working in various regions across South Africa and abroad, she gained experience in paediatrics and emergency medicine in particular. Kate has an MSc on the use of antibiotics in children with paraffin poisoning and is currently busy with her PhD looking at the epidemiology of acute poisoning in adults and children in the Western Cape, South Africa. Since 2009, Kate has supervised the writing and updating of AfriTox treatment protocols. She also oversees the Clinical Poisonings Database which collates information on all children seen at Red Cross Children's Hospital with poisoning.

Farah Mohamed

Ms. Farah Mohamed is a qualified pharmacist with experience in paediatric hospital pharmacy. She worked for many years at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital Pharmacy before joining the Poisons Information Centre in 2011. In her current role, Farah liaises closely with manufacturers of pharmaceutical, commercial, and household products to ensure the accuracy and reliability of toxicological information on the AfriTox database. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm), a Bachelor of Science (BSc), and a Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Toxicology.

Kim Moodley-Farao

Ms. Kim Moodley-Farao is a pharmacist and a member of the AfriTox team at the Poisons Information Centre. She holds a BSc in Applied Biotechnology and began her career working in laboratories, followed by experience as a medical underwriter. After qualifying as a pharmacist, she gained practical experience in both hospital and community pharmacy settings before moving into the pharmaceutical industry, where she worked in sterile vaccine manufacturing with a focus on production, quality control, and compliance. Kim is currently completing her MSc in Pharmacy Administration and Policy Regulation. Her professional interests include medical toxicology, process efficiency, and quality assurance, and she is committed to contributing meaningfully to AfriTox and supporting the vital work of the Poisons Information Centre and Helpline.

Nicole Pritchard

Mrs. Nicole Pritchard organises the day to day activities of the Poisons Information Centre. She has worked in business administration and has broad experience in liaising with clients. She has a BSc in Medical Bioscience, has a good knowledge of medical terms and procedures and has research experience in a laboratory environment. Nicole is in charge of AfriTox subscriber management and usage monitoring. She liaises with those manufacturers who partner with us in supplying product information.