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Gambia News: New malaria drugs available

The Gambia’s health officials have disclosed the availability of the new anti-malaria drug [coartem] in the country.

Coartem is combination of artemether and lumegentrin and has 100% efficacy of eliminating malaria parasite from the victim’s system.

The introduction of coartem followed the ineffectiveness of chloroquine, the amendment of the malaria policy treatment and consultations of health experts.

Malaria has been declared a major killer disease among children and pregnant women in The Gambia. It kills at least 2,000 children every year and represents over 50% of clinical cases.

The killer disease is seasonal in the country with highest risk from May to September.

National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) officials briefed journalists at a day’s forum about the urgent need for the introduction of the new drug. They said many African countries have started using coartem to combat malaria.

The Deputy Programme Manager, Adam Jagne-Sonko, attributed chloroquine resistance among many Gambians to their failure to abide by the strict treatment procedure.

“The new drug is very effective for malaria treatment, but it is not meant for pregnant women and children under five years,” Jagne-Sonko said. It is available at all public health facilities at a minimal price.

Gambian health experts said the change of attitude towards malaria treatment will help combat malaria drug resistance.