Malaria test now lasts 15 minutes
May 06, 2011
THE Ministry of Health has started distributing a simplified rapid diagnostic test, (RDT) that quickly detects malaria in rural areas where there is no electricity or laboratory.
By Brenda Asiimwe
THE Ministry of Health has started distributing a simplified rapid diagnostic test, (RDT) that quickly detects malaria in rural areas where there is no electricity or laboratory. Previously, people would wait for hours to know their results.
Dr. Jesca Nsubuga, the assistant commissioner for child health, said scientists at Karolinska Institute, Sweden, had established through studies in several African countries, including Uganda, that the test is effective. She said the test, which gives results within 15 minutes, will reduce needless use of anti-malaria drugs.
She said there has been a tendency by most Ugandans to treat every fever as malaria, yet there are many causes of fever. Nsubuga added that with the introduction of the RDTS, which are now readily available at health centres, people can easily get tested and prescribe appropriate drug to swallow.
“Sometimes, fevers are symptoms of pneumonia which requires antibiotics, but because most people think fevers are signs of malaria, they rush to give patients anti-malarials. This leads to some diseases getting away untreated, which are sometimes killers,†Nsubuga said.
Nsubuga was speaking to journalists at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
Stefan Swartling Peterson, a visiting professor of global health, had made a presentation on the various causes of fever and how the rapid diagnostic tests can help prevent situations where people take anti-malarial medicines when they do not need them.
Makerere University scientists participated in the research that led to introduction of the rapid diagnostic tests.
“We have had a partnership for the last 10 years focusing on health problems that are affecting Uganda, among which is malaria and HIV AIDS,†Peterson said.
THE Ministry of Health has started distributing a simplified rapid diagnostic test, (RDT) that quickly detects malaria in rural areas where there is no electricity or laboratory. Previously, people would wait for hours to know their results.
Dr. Jesca Nsubuga, the assistant commissioner for child health, said scientists at Karolinska Institute, Sweden, had established through studies in several African countries, including Uganda, that the test is effective. She said the test, which gives results within 15 minutes, will reduce needless use of anti-malaria drugs.
She said there has been a tendency by most Ugandans to treat every fever as malaria, yet there are many causes of fever. Nsubuga added that with the introduction of the RDTS, which are now readily available at health centres, people can easily get tested and prescribe appropriate drug to swallow.
“Sometimes, fevers are symptoms of pneumonia which requires antibiotics, but because most people think fevers are signs of malaria, they rush to give patients anti-malarials. This leads to some diseases getting away untreated, which are sometimes killers,†Nsubuga said.
Nsubuga was speaking to journalists at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences.
Stefan Swartling Peterson, a visiting professor of global health, had made a presentation on the various causes of fever and how the rapid diagnostic tests can help prevent situations where people take anti-malarial medicines when they do not need them.
Makerere University scientists participated in the research that led to introduction of the rapid diagnostic tests.
“We have had a partnership for the last 10 years focusing on health problems that are affecting Uganda, among which is malaria and HIV AIDS,†Peterson said.