Uganda gets sh800m China malaria drugs
UGANDA has received malaria drugs worth $400,000 (about sh860m) from China. The drugs, ARCO and Duo-Cotexin, are a fairly new first-line malarial combination drug therapy currently in use.
By David Mugabe
UGANDA has received malaria drugs worth $400,000 (about sh860m) from China.
“Today, we get another arsenal in the fight against Africa’s number one killer–malaria,†said Richard Nduhura, the health state minister, while receiving the drugs from Chong Quan, the Chinese assistant minister of commerce.
The ceremony was at the ministry of foreign affairs offices in Kampala.
The drugs, ARCO and Duo-Cotexin, are a fairly new first-line malarial combination drug therapy currently in use.
The drugs are, however, still awaiting pre-qualification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to enter the “essential drugs listâ€, meaning that nations could start using them on a wider range.
If WHO enlists them as essential drugs, then the Government can start procurement for massive public use, Nduhura said.
He said the first consignment of the 150,000 single dose ARCO drugs had already arrived in the country and would be distributed free of charge at regional referral hospitals.
Each dose consists of eight tablets. The Duo-Cotexin combination will arrive in May 2009.
Health officials say ARCO and Duo-Cotexin are emerging as some of the most effective malarial combination drugs.
Quan said his country was committed to helping Uganda. He led a delegation of government and trade officials to the first session of the joint committee on trade, investment and economic cooperation between Uganda and China.
China will rehabilitate the 100-bed Naguru Health Centre and the malaria unit at Mulago Hospital, Quan said.
While some steps have been taken to contain malaria like provision of free mosquito nets and increased funding, there is a huge challenge regarding ignorance surrounding cheap control measures like destroying mosquito breeding grounds.
UGANDA has received malaria drugs worth $400,000 (about sh860m) from China.
“Today, we get another arsenal in the fight against Africa’s number one killer–malaria,†said Richard Nduhura, the health state minister, while receiving the drugs from Chong Quan, the Chinese assistant minister of commerce.
The ceremony was at the ministry of foreign affairs offices in Kampala.
The drugs, ARCO and Duo-Cotexin, are a fairly new first-line malarial combination drug therapy currently in use.
The drugs are, however, still awaiting pre-qualification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to enter the “essential drugs listâ€, meaning that nations could start using them on a wider range.
If WHO enlists them as essential drugs, then the Government can start procurement for massive public use, Nduhura said.
He said the first consignment of the 150,000 single dose ARCO drugs had already arrived in the country and would be distributed free of charge at regional referral hospitals.
Each dose consists of eight tablets. The Duo-Cotexin combination will arrive in May 2009.
Health officials say ARCO and Duo-Cotexin are emerging as some of the most effective malarial combination drugs.
Quan said his country was committed to helping Uganda. He led a delegation of government and trade officials to the first session of the joint committee on trade, investment and economic cooperation between Uganda and China.
China will rehabilitate the 100-bed Naguru Health Centre and the malaria unit at Mulago Hospital, Quan said.
While some steps have been taken to contain malaria like provision of free mosquito nets and increased funding, there is a huge challenge regarding ignorance surrounding cheap control measures like destroying mosquito breeding grounds.