Rwandan Government Adopts Coartem To Treat Malaria

The Rwandan government recently adopted Novartis' artemisinin-based combination therapy Coartem to treat malaria, saying that the current treatment of amodiaquine-sulfadoxine and pyramethamine is ineffective, the New Times reports. Launching the new drug, State Minister for HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases Innocent Nyaruhirira said Coartem is 96% effective. Noelle Jude, Novartis' country liaison manager, said the company was prepared to supply the drug to Rwanda at reasonable prices (Gahigana, New Times, 10/5). Nyaruhirira also said that the government is encouraging the Rwandan public to use the pesticide DDT after the World Health Organization last month released guidelines endorsing the use of the pesticide to control malaria. Rwanda Environment Management Authority Director Rose Mukankomeje recently warned against using DDT because it could hinder the growth of trade and investment in Rwanda. According to REMA, DDT pollutes water and soil and could be harmful to humans. However, WHO does not indicate that DDT is hazardous for humans, Nyaruhirira said (Gahigana, New Times [2], 10/5).