Susan Anyangu
5 November 2009
Nairobi — Just three percent of malaria-infected children in Africa get World Health Organisation-recommended drugs. One expert has equated this to a death sentence for sick children.
Nine hundred thousand people die worldwide every year as a result of malaria, 90 percent of them in Africa.
A survey done by Population Services International (PSI) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine reveals that only three percent of children access effective malaria treatment within 24 hours.
Speaking to IPS at the Fifth Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Pan-African Malaria Conference, Dr Desmond Chavasse, vice president malaria control and child survival at PSI (a global health organisation with programmes targeting malaria, child survival, HIV and reproductive health), equates the lack of access to effective malaria drugs to being tantamount to a death sentence for African children who are under five.
"Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the most effective form of treatment against malaria and over 80 countries have adopted these as first-line treatment, as recommended by WHO. However, a survey done by PSI and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine reveals that despite being effective, ACTs are not being sold in the market," Chavasse says.
The stumbling block is simple: the cost of ACT is far beyond the means of a typical family in Sub-Saharan Africa.
"In the last six weeks I have had to send money to my husband three times to buy medicines for our four-year-old son who consistently gets malaria episodes. I am the sole bread winner in my family since my husband is a casual labourer. My family relies on my salary which is 3,500 Kenya shillings (around 46 U.S. dollars) a month and thus going to hospital is simply not an option for us," Lillian Ngaira recounts with a forlorn look.
And so when Ngaira's son falls sick, they buy medication from a local pharmacy. A little probing reveals that the malaria diagnosis is not based on clinical test, but rather an assumption by Ngaira and her husband.
"The boy always runs a high fever and I know this is malaria. So we rely upon a local chemist where we purchase medicine. A dose for malaria costs approximately 60 Ksh ($0.80)," she recounts.
From Ngaira's description, the medicine they give their son is not among the recommended ACTs, raising questions about its effectiveness especially if he catches a resistant strain of malaria.
According to Chavasse, Ngaira's case depicts the scenario in most of Sub-Saharan Africa where evidence reveals that mothers go to shops rather than hospitals to buy malaria medicines.
"It is clear majority of people rely on the private sector to access malaria treatment. However, the majority of the funding targeting malaria treatment is directed at the public sector, where only 40 percent seek treatment. Thus it means we have no data on what kind of treatment people are receiving and what this could be doing to them. This poses a serious challenge for the work being done to reduce malaria deaths," says Dr Peter Olumese, WHO's global malaria program medical officer.
The cost of a complete dose of ACTs is between six and 11 dollars depending on where one purchases it. For Ngaira's household, meeting all its expenses out of 46 dollars a month, finding $11 to cover one child's treatment is simply not a viable option.
"I understand what you are telling me, that these drugs are effective. But the reality is they are expensive so I will not bother asking for them. There are cheaper alternatives available, and if that is what I can afford, I will buy that to offer my child relief," Ngaira says.
ACTs may be the most effective medicine at 99.5 percent efficacy, but they account for at most 15 percent of the total volume of anti-malarials in use.
"This is because the ACTs are 10 to 20 percent more expensive in the private sector than the most commonly purchased anti-malarials... which are ineffective. This is encouraging the use of mono-therapy treatment which heightens the likelihood of developing resistance," says Chavasse.
The effectiveness of ACTs is because the drug contains two different anti-malarials, almost eliminating the possibility of the parasite developing resistance to both at the same time.
To respond to the pricing challenge, the Global Health Fund, with financial support from The Clinton Foundation and Medicines for Malaria Venture, will soon launch a project to subsidize ACTs and make them available through the private sector.
"It is clear that people rely on the private sector to get medicines thus we must find innovative financing to make the effective drugs available at an affordable rate," says Oliver Sabot, director of the Clinton Foundation's malaria control team.
Two pilot projects in Uganda and Tanzania provide subsidized ACTs through private sector clinics and chemists. The results have shown that a 95 percent subsidy to first-line buyers significantly increases uptake of the ACT, displacing ineffective anti-malarials such as chloroquine.
The Global Health Fund has invited 10 African countries as well as Cambodia to apply to participate in a wider drug subsidy programme. Benin, Niger, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Madagascar have applied to take part. It remains unclear how many countries will be selected; the announcement will soon be made when the board meets in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in November.
"In a few days, the Global Health Fund board will meet in Addis Ababa where they will announce which countries will be selected to participate in the programme. What will happen is that with funds from partners, the Global Health Fund will direct monies into these countries to subsidize the purchase of ACTs to make them cheaper for the patient," says Dr Olusoji Adeyi, director of affordable medicines facility, Global Fund.
Under the subsidy programme, the cost of a course of ACTs will fall from 11 dollars to $0.25 cents. And if the results are similar to those in the pilot projects in Uganda and Tanzania, the intention is to seek more funding to expand the coverage of the subsidy programme.
If the price of ACTs is brought down, researches argue the onus will thus be on governments to institute stringent regulatory measures and ban ineffective treatments. Governments will also need to ensure the public sector health facilities always have adequate stock of ACTs.
Chavasse says if made accessible ACTs will provide one of the most important missing links to the fight against malaria.
"Access to ACTs has been the weak link in the fight against malaria. The use of ACTs alongside other malaria preventative measures such as use of insecticide treated mosquito nets and indoor residual spraying will help reduce the disease burden caused by malaria both in children and adults," Chavasse says.
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FIGHTING AGAINST MALARIA NATURALLY
- According to Ghanaian Naturopaths such as Dr. Kofi B. Asare & Nana Amena Here’s how we should treat Malaria & Why :
1) Drink Lots Of Water
2) Eat Lots Of Natural Laxatives aka Fruits
WHY ? – To Flush the toxicity out of your system that has clogged itself up
[ Personally- I recommend fasting on Water only or juice and water after you have had a few days on the above-noted recommendations]
As Naturopath Nana Amena says, fasting helps your body to use up access and reset your body, getting all of your body involved in the process of life. (paraphrased)
SOME MALARIA-RELATED INFORMATION
1) Insect repellent DEET is toxic to brain cells [http://www.naturalnews.com/026982_DEET_insect_repellent_insect_repellents. html ]
2) What has the rich Computer Man Bill Gates III Done With Those Mosquitoes He Released On A Crowd (Allegedly To Vaccinate Them ?
[ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488348,00.html ] CLINGING FLATTERERS – [Daniel 11:34 ]] Now when The Saints shall fall, they shall be given a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries
And Vision Exalters [Daniel 11:14 ]] And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the ROBBERS OF OUR PEOPLE shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; BUT THEY SHALL FALL !
3) PEST CONTROL NATURALLY
* Flies – use spray bottle of bleach-water
4) * 5 Simple Tips for Repelling Pests [http://www.care2.com/greenliving/repelling-pests-five-simple-tips.html ] Natural Plant-Based Pesticides: Ready for Use [ http://www.naturalnews.com/026967_pesticides_cleansing_food.html ]
5) Natural Mosquito Repellents You Can Use Right Now [http://www.naturalnews.com/026676_mosquito_repellents_health_sunscreen.htm l] * Minty Herbs such as Peppermint, Cloves,& Rosemary
6) Mosquito-Free Naturally – citronella, soy oil, catnip, neem seed oil, lavender essential oil, and garlic [http://www.care2.com/greenliving/mosquito-free-naturally.html ]
7) * THAILAND BANDS 13 HERBS ( Many of these are natural insect repellerts)
[http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/11379/farmers-up-in-arms-at-herb-lis ting] – [ Neem, Citronella, Tumeric, Ginger, Chinese Ginger, African Marigold, (Siam Weed or Bitter Bush), Tea Sea Cake , Chilli, Chinese Celery, Ringworm Bush, Glory Lily & Stemona ]
ANOTHER ONE OF GOD’S GIFTS TO HUMANITY DOCTOR SEBI – Electrical Wholistic Nutrition & Products
[http://www.drsebiproducts.com/index.html]
(310) 838-2490 / (Fax) = (310) 838-8726
* Cancer , AIDs, Diseases Don’t Stand A Chance With Him.
* Check Out His Youtube Videos He’s Like George Washington Carver Might Have Been
SPIRITUAL HEALTH
Remember the 120 ! in the Upperroom, Gideon’s 300, One(1) believer can chase 1,000 demons & Two (2) can make 10,000 run .
How many will 1 million chase ?
Here’s An abbreviated Spirit Bomb prayer that I’d like for us to say to God The Creator Of All :
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN .
- In Jesus Name We Pray – Amen
Pray twice per day once around sunset & once around sunrise .
Have prayer lists which include Family, Christians, Truthseekers ,& Worthy Causes , etc…
SOME OF OUR LEADERS ARE UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE , SOME OF OUR
WORLD IS UNDER THE SAME,. OUR UNITED , CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS
PRAYERS WILL HELP US TO SEE THROUGH JESUS’ EYES. REMEMBER , HE’S
THE HEAD, WE HAVE NO EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, ETC..WITHOUT THE
HEAD. THAT IS WHY WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE
OR ANY OTHER NATURAL DISTRACTION. WE ARE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS !!!
Make a Habit Of Praying Twice a Day (Sunset / Sunrise). Have A Daily Prayer, Weekly
Prayer , Monthly Prayer, even Yearly Prayer ; keeping persons, organizations and causes
in mind that you’d like to pray for at these intervals of time ( Daily-Weekly-Monthly-
Yearly).
Some prayer list suggestions –
(DAILY PRAYER LIST ) -
Christian & Natural Family -
TOP-PRIORITY Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(WEEKLY PRAYER LIST ) -
MID-LEVEL Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(MONTHLY PRAYER LIST ) -
- Persons, Causes & Oragnizations ( For Example – Heads Of Countries)
(YEARLY PRAYER LIST ) -
LOWER LEVEL - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
MATTHEW 10:26 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT WON’T BE REVEALED AND THERE IS NOTHING HIDDEN THAT WON’T BE KNOWN.
[God Bless You Readers To Want To Know And Seek To Know The Truth] - MAY GOD BE A HAVEN OF PEACE IN OUR TIME OF TROUBLE --
WE ARE BEING INFILTRATED BY WEEDS ACTING LIKE WHEAT ! PRAY & ACT ON YOUR FAITH AND HOPE WITH LOVE. EVEN FOR THOSE MISLEAD ACTING LIKE THEY LOVE YOU.
The Swine Flu Vaccination Hoax - Explained URL – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbFxV_C8Yw4 ]
Check Out :
1) [ JohnAlanMartinsonJr.com] 2) His You Tube Video : URL = [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuzhnKy63io ] 3) Who Brought The Slaves To America ? [http://wideeyecinema.com/?p=911]
[ www.Libradio.net ]
[gcnlive.com]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! .
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
Majority of the population living in Africa are carreirs of the malalria parasite.Africa is still unable to eradicate polio, talk abouth Malaria.people ared ying of the complications of the disease and not the disease per say, should our approach be by other primary prevention, because vaccination is definately impactical everyone in Africa has at least had an episode of Malaria
At what point are we going to insist on using DDT to combat malaria. With over a million people dying of this disease, why don't we return to the use of the most effective way of undoing this major problem. The environmentalists have blood on their hands for having this banned, and should be required to first hand observe this malady. God bless the people of Africa for all they have suffered. Bill, Whittier, CA
As long as we "Africans" have some puppit leaders in Africa, the Africans living in Africa will continue to suffer, perish and die. That means, with the help of our puppit leaders DDT will never be use to combat this cronic desease that is ravaging and massively killing our people. Why selling your prestige, dignity, the country, the continent and the lives of your people for mediocre aids that can ONLY last for one day ???? Why?? Africa needs to invest in her people for a last and everlasting good standard of living and development.. May God Bless Africa..
FIGHTING AGAINST MALARIA NATURALLY
- According to Ghanaian Naturopaths such as Dr. Kofi B. Asare & Nana Amena Here’s how we should treat Malaria & Why : 1) Drink Lots Of Water 2) Eat Lots Of Natural Laxatives aka Fruits WHY ? – To Flush the toxicity out of your system that has clogged itself up [ Personally- I recommend fasting on Water only or juice and water after you have had a few days on the above-noted recommendations] As Naturopath Nana Amena says, fasting helps your body to use up access and reset your body, getting all of your body involved in the process of life. (paraphrased)
Insect repellent DEET is toxic to brain cells [http://www.naturalnews.com/026982_DEET_insect_repellent_insect_repellents. html ]
What has the rich Computer Man Bill Gates III Done With Those Mosquitoes He Released On A Crowd (Allegedly To Vaccinate Them ? [ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488348,00.html ]
PEST CONTROL * Flies – use spray bottle of bleach-water
* 5 Simple Tips for Repelling Pests [http://www.care2.com/greenliving/repelling-pests-five-simple-tips.html ] Natural Plant-Based Pesticides: Ready for Use [ http://www.naturalnews.com/026967_pesticides_cleansing_food.html ]
Natural Mosquito Repellents You Can Use Right Now [http://www.naturalnews.com/026676_mosquito_repellents_health_sunscreen.htm l] * Minty Herbs such as Peppermint, Cloves,& Rosemary
Mosquito-Free Naturally – citronella, soy oil, catnip, neem seed oil, lavender essential oil, and garlic [http://www.care2.com/greenliving/mosquito-free-naturally.html ]
* THAILAND BANDS 13 HERBS ( Many of these are natural insect repellerts)
[http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/11379/farmers-up-in-arms-at-herb-lis ting] – [ Neem, Citronella, Tumeric, Ginger, Chinese Ginger, African Marigold, (Siam Weed or Bitter Bush), Tea Sea Cake , Chilli, Chinese Celery, Ringworm Bush, Glory Lily & Stemona ]
DOCTOR SEBI – Electrical Wholistic Nutrition & Products
[http://www.drsebiproducts.com/index.html]
(310) 838-2490 / (Fax) = (310) 838-8726
* Cancer , AIDs, Diseases Don’t Stand A Chance With Him.
* Check Out His Youtube Videos He’s Like George Washington Carver Might Have Been
Remember the 120 ! in the Upperroom, Gideon’s 300, One(1) believer can chase 1,000 demons & Two (2) can make 10,000 run .
How many will 1 million chase ?
Here’s An abbreviated Spirit Bomb prayer that I’d like for us to say to God The Creator Of All :
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN .
- In Jesus Name We Pray – Amen
Pray twice per day once around sunset & once around sunrise .
Have prayer lists which include Family, Christians, Truthseekers ,& Worthy Causes , etc…
SOME OF OUR LEADERS ARE UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE , SOME OF OUR
WORLD IS UNDER THE SAME,. OUR UNITED , CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS
PRAYERS WILL HELP US TO SEE THROUGH JESUS’ EYES. REMEMBER , HE’S
THE HEAD, WE HAVE NO EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, ETC..WITHOUT THE
HEAD. THAT IS WHY WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE
OR ANY OTHER NATURAL DISTRACTION. WE ARE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS !!!
Make a Habit Of Praying Twice a Day (Sunset / Sunrise). Have A Daily Prayer, Weekly
Prayer , Monthly Prayer, even Yearly Prayer ; keeping persons, organizations and causes
in mind that you’d like to pray for at these intervals of time ( Daily-Weekly-Monthly-
Yearly).
Some prayer list suggestions –
(DAILY PRAYER LIST ) -
Christian & Natural Family -
TOP-PRIORITY Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(WEEKLY PRAYER LIST ) -
MID-LEVEL Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(MONTHLY PRAYER LIST ) -
- Persons, Causes & Oragnizations ( For Example – Heads Of Countries)
(YEARLY PRAYER LIST ) -
LOWER LEVEL - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
MATTHEW 10:26 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT WON’T BE REVEALED AND THERE IS NOTHING HIDDEN THAT WON’T BE KNOWN.
[God Bless You Readers To Want To Know And Seek To Know The Truth] - MAY GOD BE A HAVEN OF PEACE IN OUR TIME OF TROUBLE --
WE ARE BEING INFILTRATED BY WEEDS ACTING LIKE WHEAT ! PRAY & ACT ON YOUR FAITH AND HOPE WITH LOVE. EVEN FOR THOSE MISLEAD ACTING LIKE THEY LOVE YOU.
CLINGING FLATTERERS – [Daniel 11:34 ]] Now when The Saints shall fall, they shall be given a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries
And Vision Exalters [Daniel 11:14 ]] And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the ROBBERS OF OUR PEOPLE shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; BUT THEY SHALL FALL !
The Swine Flu Vaccination Hoax - Explained URL – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbFxV_C8Yw4 ]
Check Out :
1) [ JohnAlanMartinsonJr.com] 2) His You Tube Video : URL = [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuzhnKy63io ] 3) Who Brought The Slaves To America ? [http://wideeyecinema.com/?p=911]
The Black Athena (Part1) [ Spiritual Reparations ] URL – [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4maNtzhL9Q ]
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/] [ www.Libradio.net ] WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]
See all comments (9).
Active Discussions: Pan African Malaria Conference