TRAC PLUS calls for consistency in the successful fight against malaria

BY GEORGE KAGAME


The Centre for Infectious Diseases Control TRAC PLUS director Professor Michael Kramer has malaria control organisations in the country to maintain Rwanda’s successful efforts in controlling the most dangerous health issue in Africa.

In an exclusive interview with The New Times Kramer flanked by Dr Corine Karema the director general of the National Malaria Control programme said; “we are organizing ceremonies to honour the World Malaria Day at Kirehe in the Eastern Province. “

In Rwanda, the national Malaria Control programme has been impressive. World Health organisation statistics show that; Rwanda has scaled down malaria by 60 percent, the best performance in efforts to treat malaria in Sub Saharan Africa. Malaria has been labeled as the single most dangerous cause of death and low life expectance in developing countries.

By 2000, there were one million malaria related diseases in Rwanda today this according to Karema has been reduced, she says, alaria related infections in Rwanda have reduced by 60 percent in 2008.

Malaria still poses a serious threat to National Health Service sector as the disease is responsible for reduced working hours for working adults and limited time for study for school going children. Efforts to fight the disease in the country have received international recognition including a visit to Rwanda in March 2008 by US President George Bush.
Rwanda however has managed to scale down the threat of malaria; Karema adds; “Under-5 child mortality rate has greatly reduced to and the proportion of child related deaths attributable to malaria is currently below 5 percent.”




Research also shows that malaria is responsible for 9 percent of deaths in Sub Saharan Africa, the fight against malaria costs US Billion 12 in medical expenses and lost productivity. Rwanda according to WHO is the most successful country in Africa in fighting malaria.

This year’s national theme for the World Malaria Day for 2008 to be celebrated in Rwanda on Friday 25th April along the boarder with Tanzania is; “Malaria a Disease without Boarders”. Karema said; “Kirehe boarders Tanzania and Burundi, we are sending a message that the fight against malaria can only be won if we partner with our neighbours. We are also hoping to use this chance to launch the distribution of malaria drugs in the private sector.”

Karema said that Antemesurin based combination therapy which sells under the brand name of Coartem will be launched for commercial distribution in the private sector.

Influential medical journal Lancet suggests that the combination of artemether and lumefantrine, manufactured by leading pharmaceutical company Novartis under the brand name Coartem, is the most effective available treatment for malaria in children in areas of Africa where resistance to conventional anti-malarial drugs is high. Developed and produced by Novartis and its Chinese partners, Coartem is currently the only fixed-dose artemisinin-based combination therapy pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for procurement by United Nations agencies.

The national celebrations organized by all malaria control stakeholders in public and private sectors including; Population Services International, Ministry of health, PNILP, PNILT, will see the launch of nationwide distribution of long lasting mosquito treated bed nets to people living with HIV/Aids.

Kramer said the move was to boost immunity of HIV positive patients; “HIV patients have a weak immunity system, it is important that we treat all opportunistic diseases especially Malaria.”

Kramer also said that unless efforts to combat malaria were adopted by regional countries, the drive to reduce the impact of the impact risk failing; “We have been successful so far in Africa but we hope one day we shall be able eliminate malaria, more importantly now we need total cooperation from our regional neighbours especially Burundi and Tanzania because of cross boarder movements and similar weather conditions”

In a related development the Minister of Health Damascene Ntawukuliryayo is set to launch Ea Sur, the water purifying tablet that treats bacteria and germs in drinking water.
Ceremonies to launch Eau Sur will be held in the Western province district of Rubavu on 26th April.