21 September 2008
editorial
Kampala — The Government is to provide Coartem, an anti-malaria drug, to private health units at a subsidised price. The drugs will cost sh200 per dose for children and sh800 for adults. The artemisinin combination therapy drugs, also known as Coartem, cost between sh12,000 and sh18,000 in private clinics.
Initially, a pilot project will be carried out in several districts that have high malaria transmission densities, according to Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, the primary health care state minister.
The subsidised drugs are intended to phase out chloroquine and fansidar that have ceased to be effective in treating malaria. Government health units already provide the anti-malaria drugs for free, but studies had indicated that between 40%-60% of the population seek their first treatment from the private health centres.
Taking on board the private health units in the anti-malaria campaign is a step in the right direction. Public-private partnership has worked well in respect to HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
Malaria poses the most significant threat to the health of the population in Uganda. It is the biggest killer of children under five - between 70,000 and 110,000 deaths annually - and is responsible for the majority of miscarriages and maternal health problems. Besides, malaria also has a great impact on the economic development of the country. The malaria menace, therefore, must be vigorously and aggressively tackled as an emergency.
The Ministry of Health must put in place an elaborate monitoring system to ensure that the subsidised anti-malaria drugs given to private health units are not diverted or sold at commercial rate. The health ministry should involve the local community leaders in the selection and monitoring of the private health units provided with subsidised anti-malaria drugs.
The Government must, however, emphasise preventive approach where the elimination of the mosquitoes is accorded priority. It is not clear whether the Government has shelved the project to use the insecticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) to fight malaria. Although some environmentalists oppose its use, DDT is an effective and cost-effective preventive measure against malaria.
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