Novartis and international experts to combat malaria

Novartis, with support from the Global Fund, Clinton Health Access Initiative, ACTwatch, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics and the Global Business Coalition has developed a workshop this year to increase efforts to combat malaria.

This year’s National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) workshop is themed; “Expanding Access to Quality-Assured Artemisinin-based Combination therapies (ACTs),” a statement has said.

The chairman of the Malaria Public Health Department at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Prof. Bob Snow said, “The progress that has been made toward significantly reducing the malaria burden in Africa will be quickly undermined if we do not tackle the endemic problem of poor quality antimalarials in the private sector.”

“Successful treatment of malaria depends on high-quality antimalarials, however, sub-standard, obsolete antimalarials, and oral artemisinin monotherapies remain readily available in many African countries through the private sector. These treatments may contain too little or no active ingredient, thereby putting patients’ lives at risk,” he explained.

Head of the Novartis Malaria Initiative, Linus Igwemezie, stated that, “We look forward to fostering new approaches to fighting malaria by bringing together the best minds and leaders in the field. Partnerships such as these are vital in the fight against malaria.”

By Dorcas Appiah