Published by the government of Zimbabwe
13 March 2008
Harare — The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare has introduced Coartem, an anti-malaria drug in Mashonaland East Province to mitigate against resistance to traditional drugs.
The drug falls under the artermisinin-based combination therapy, is expected to reduce malaria cases in the province. Provincial medical director Dr Simukai Zizhou said they introduced Coartem after noticing an increase in cases of drugresistance in malaria patients. "The drug is now available at all district hospitals and medical centres after successful trials were carried out in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe," said Dr Zizhou.
He revealed that they had also introduced rapid malaria detector test kits to complement existing malaria slide microscopy to enable practitioners to detect parasites quickly. Dr Zizhou said they were continuing with the School Health Masters programme in declared malaria zones, which emphasises on training teachers on detecting malaria symptoms in pupils. "The teachers are allowed to prescribe chloroquine and liaise with health personnel since they are in touch with the pupils everyday," said Dr Zizhou.
He warned that the country had now entered the peak malaria transmission period and people in high transmission areas like Mudzi, Mutoko, UMP and Murehwa North should take preventive measures. Other malaria control measures used in the country include DDT spraying, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and pyrethroid.
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