Kampala — A new initiative, which will see easy access by the rural poor to the most effective but rather expensive malaria drugs, was launched on Friday in Kaliro by Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi.

The Ministry of Health is joining hands with an international Ngo - the Medicines for Malaria Venture in partnership with other local organisations who will over the next two years deliver heavily subsidised malaria medicines for as low as Shs200 for a treatment course of children and Shs800 for adults.

The drugs are the WHO recommended artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), which are a blend of artemisinin with another antimalarial drug. Endemic in most parts of the country, malaria kills 320 Ugandans everyday, most of them children and pregnant women.

Addressing the media on Thursday, the State Minister for Primary Health Care Dr Emmanuel Otaala, said although the government is already providing ACTs in the public sector for free, the new venture would make the medicines available to those who seek care from the private sector.

"These life saving drugs are still inaccessible in the private sector largely because they are not affordable. One single dose of Coartem costs between Shs12,000 and Shs18,000 in this country. This makes people resort to the ineffective out dated mono therapies," Dr Otaala said.

According to a joint statement from the implementing partners issued last week, the subsidised ACTs, whose pack is branded with a green leaf, "will enable any sick person receive treatment at a cheaper cost.."

The two year pilot phase of the initiative will be carried out in the districts of Kaliro, Pallisa, Budaka, Kamuli, Soroti, Kabarole, Kamwenge and Mubende.