Calls for new effective malaria drug

more effective malaria drug in Third World countries to replace quinine with a new drug to effectively respond to malaria burden as Zimbabwe joins other nations in marking World Malaria Day today.
The Medecins Sans Frontiers urged the World Health Organisation and the donor community to support governments in accelerating the distribution of the new malaria drug, artesunate.
Zimbabwe has already switched from quinine to coatemeter.
However, the new artesunate drug is said to be more effective than both quinine and coatemeter.
The new drug is more relevant in cases of severe malaria where patients can not take medications orally as it can be administered intravenously.
“Quinine has to be given three times a day in a slow intravenous drip that takes four hours, a treatment that is burdensome for both patients and health staff.
“Artesunate, in contrast, can be given in just four minutes, by giving a patient an intravenous or intramuscular injection,” said MSF.
“When children arrive at the clinic with severe malaria, they often are having convulsions, vomiting or at risk of going into shock, and you just want to be able to give them effective treatment quickly,” Veronique De Clerck, Medical Co-ordinator for MSF in Uganda said.
“For decades, quinine has been used in severe malaria, but it can be both difficult to use and dangerous, so it’s time to bid it farewell. With artesunate, we now have a drug that saves more lives from severe malaria, and is safer, easier and more effective than quinine.”
A landmark clinical trial concluded in nine African countries last year, revealed that the use of artesunate to treat children with severe malaria reduces the risk of death by nearly a quarter.
Zimbabwe will today commemorate the World Malaria Day at a function hosted by the Zimbabwe National Practitioners Association.
The commemorations will be held in Hatcliffe and will run under the theme: Achieving Progress and Impact.
The Slogan is: Together we can make a difference.