Burundi Government Launches New Malaria Medicine

Bujumbura Burindi: The government of Burundi launched a new malaria treatment, a combination therapy of artesunate and amodiaquine, on Monday, and announced the stoppage of chloroquine and fansidar, which have become resistant to the disease.
“The new medicine will be available in all public hospitals and health centres,” Dr Jean Kamana, the health minister, said during the official launch in the capital, Bujumbura.

“We will do whatever possible to have sufficient stocks so that private hospitals and pharmacies should get their supplies from our stock,” he said.

He said the new therapy was being introduced after studies showed that chloroquine and fansidar had failed to cure more than 25 percent of patients.

For more on the story visit
http://allafrica.com/stories/200311110668.html