The Gambia Launches New Malaria Drug Policy
The Gambia last week launched a new treatment policy that makes the artemisinin-based combination therapy Coartem the country's first-line drug for uncomplicated malaria, Foroyaa/AllAfrica.com reports (Battaye, Foroyaa/AllAfrica.com, 1/26). The country decided to switch its first-line treatment from chloroquine to Coartem because of nationwide studies that found increasing resistance to the older drug (Dibba, Daily Observer/AllAfrica.com, 1/25). Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare Malick Njie at the policy's launch ceremony said that The Gambia's Department of Health has implemented mechanisms aimed at monitoring drug resistance, which the country will use to develop its treatment policy.
World Health Organization representative Agnes Quaye at the ceremony said that the organization has provided support to the health department for the creation of case management procedures and guidelines, supplying health care workers with training on Coartem use and procuring the drug. She added that WHO will continue to support the country in implementing and monitoring the new treatment policy (Foroyaa/AllAfrica.com, 1/26). National Malaria Control Program Manager Malang Fofana at the ceremony said that the launch of Coartem as the country's first-line drug represents a turning point in The Gambia's efforts to curb the disease. "It is only through effective partnerships such as this anti-malaria policy change that we can roll back malaria in our country," he said.
According to Njie, the malaria treatment policy was approved by the country's Cabinet and President Yahya Jammeh in February 2007 (Daily Observer/AllAfrica.com, 1/25).
