Solomon Islands Introduces Coartem, Rapid Diagnostic Kits for Malaria Control
The Solomon Islands on Saturday introduced new malaria interventions, including Novartis' artemisinin-based combination therapy Coartem and rapid diagnostic kits, the SIBC/Solomon Times reports (SIBC/Solomon Times, 12/8).
Alby Bobogare, director of Solomon Islands' National Vector Borne Disease Control Program and a member of the Malaria Technical Working Group, said the new drugs and test kits will help the country control malaria. He added that the Ministry of Health will begin by distributing Coartem to the Honiara City Council clinics and Central, Guadalcanal and Malaita provinces because these areas have high malaria burdens. According to the health ministry, all clinics in the country should have the new drugs and test kits by March or April.
Coartem will be available in four categories based on patients' weight and should be taken twice per day (Kadamana, Solomon Star News, 12/6). According to Dalipanda of the Technical Working Group, some physicians and patients might be reluctant to use Coartem to treat malaria instead of chloroquine, which does not have different formulations according to body weight and can be taken once daily for three days. Dalipanda said rural health workers have undergone training for Coartem but added that more medical workers will need training on how to administer the drug (SIBC/Solomon Times, 12/8).
