Cosmas Butunyi
23 June 2009
Nairobi — Public health facilities could be contributing to drug resistance in malaria treatment.
A study conducted by scientists from the Great Lakes University of Kisumu says management, administrative factors, and policy issues played an important role in anti-malarial drug resistance.
Among the factors singled out are errors in diagnosis as well as poor transportation and storage of the drugs.
Mr Charles Angira, who led the study in Rachuonyo District in Nyanza Province, said over 97 per cent of health care providers rely on physical examination and 91.5 per cent on symptoms to diagnose malaria.
"This not accurate as it provides chances for errors that may lead to irrational drug use," Mr Angira said.
Nyanza provincial director of medical services Ojwang' Lusi said that this could be true because not all health facilities have equipped laboratories.
However, he insisted that patients' history and the medics' clinical acumen could be sufficient because they form a major part of the diagnosis.
The study also found that not all health facilities in Rachuonyo have current recommended anti-malaria drugs. About 40 per cent of the health facilities lack the artemisinin-based combinations that are recommended.
Dr Lusi disagreed, stating that the government has policy guidelines on malaria treatment that are adhered to in the province.
Mr Angira said general purpose trucks that are used to transport the drugs may be damaging them.
"These vehicles can influence the reduction of the potency of the drugs, as they do not have the necessary equipment to control adverse temperatures," he explained.
A larger number of the health facilities also lacked cold storage units and anti-malarial drugs are stored at room temperature, which varies with weather conditions. In addition to spoilage, this contributes to the drugs' reduced
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