E-DRUG: Joint statement on malaria/ACT from MSF, WHO et al (2)
-------------------------------------------------------------
[a case study showing the problems when the existing malaria drugs are
getting resistant! WB]
dear E-druggers,
I quite appreciate this mail. I am from Nigeria, where
recent research shows that about 60% of the population
earn N10,000 per month or less. (Approx N140=$1)
In the last two months, I had to treat a young lady
living with us with combination therapy of Artem and
mefloq at the cost of N1000. I then had to treat my 3
year old for malaria as well. I have never had it so
rough. He had a resistant malaria that did not respond
to chloroquine and Fansider. When the tests showed
resitance and rings, we then went to Halfan which the
dr prescribed and in spite of us being engaged in a
managed care arrangement, the hospital did not stock
it because of the cost. We bought Halfan which cost us
N1200. He had a temperature which was resitant to
paracetamol and I had to buy Ibuprofen at about N800.
I had to monitor him vigilantly and put him on iron
as well as other multivitamins. I have no doubt that
if I was not a pharmacist the consequences of this
illness which lasted for over 10 days would have been
serious. We spent over N5000 on this illness and this
does not include the psychological trauma and the lost
hours at work and school.
I really dont know how the majority would have coped
with this situation I found myself in, if the total
treatment costs on malaria in 2 months is almost 80%
of the total monthly salary of over 60% of the
population.
I have a burden for the cause and would really want
to be actively involved in the sale of ITN and any
other campaigns. I would appreciate information on
available aids and networks fighting malaria in
Africa.
Thank you,
Funmi Oduniyi, MBA (Member Royal Pharm Soc of Great
Britain, Memner, Pharm Soc of Nigeria)
Nigeria
fumken@yahoo.co.uk
--
To send a message to E-Drug, write to: e-drug@healthnet.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe, write to: majordomo@healthnet.org
in the body of the message type: subscribe e-drug OR unsubscribe e-drug
To contact a person, send a message to: e-drug-help@healthnet.org
Information and archives: http://www.essentialdrugs.org/edrug