E-drug: Re: Malaria and antimalarials
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Dear All,
Isn't most of the world's population struggling with HIV/AIDS,
malaria in Africa? Malaria is among the top two diseases afflicting
the poorest on the continent. If it is true that only 10% of the fund
has been allocated to the fight against malaria, are the responsible
officials being realistic? Take the effort donors put in programmes
for immunisation -- If this effort were comprehensively put in the
fight against malaria, with specific health disciplines on board, there
can be a difference.
Striking plain Artemesinin derivatives off the model list is a
convincing strategy. But what will those allergic to sulfa (for the
case of Artesunate / SP combinations) or patients who can't take
derivatives of Halofantrine use?
A Medical Officer had similar worries of resistance, following
reports of misusing Rifampicin for conditions other than
Tuberculosis. So the Regulatory Authority acted. The body could
only allow importing combinations of Rifampicin / Isoniazid. But
there was genuine demand, need for plain Rifampicin, and alot of it
is now on the market. Notice that when there is demand for a
commodity or service, blocking what helps is a waste of resources.
As for having combination products of Artemesinin derivatives, the
public sector is easy to control. The private sector, which often
provides 80% of first contact health care, will be harder to regulate.
Let the plain and combination products co-exist. Insist to have the
plain products taken together with another antimalarial.
At the end of it all, What works is a comprehensively fight against
malaria, with specific health disciplines on board. I heard one time
that having knowledge does not cause change in practice. But
knowledge in the right place works and it is the first step for
behavioural change. Ever stopped to consider why health disclipines
exist in their variety?
Regards,
George Kibumba, MPS
Teaching Assistant
Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy
Makerere University
P.O.Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
Mobile: 256 071 81 54 28
E-mail: kibumba@yahoo.com
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