New anti-malaria drug is now available in the country, according to the National Malaria Control Programme, under the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare.

The new drug is called coartem, which is a combination of Artemether and Lumegentrin. It has 100 per cent efficacy of eliminating malaria parasite (plasmodium parasite) from one's system.

Its introduction, which was triggered by the unabated resistance to chloroquine drug, was preceded by the amendment of the malaria treatment policy and a wide range of consultations and meetings of experts and other stakeholders.

Malaria accounts for about 2,000 child deaths in The Gambia, each year and represents 50.7 per cent of clinical cases, according to official statistics. The disease does not spare pregnant women (32.1 per cent of cases) whose immunity drops during pregnancy.
In the country, the incidence of the disease is prevalent in Central River, Lower River and Upper River Regions, because of the presence of large number of mosquito breeding sites, such as brick picks, lagoons and Nerica rice growing sites (swarms).
Anti-malaria experts told journalists at a one-day sensitisation that the new drug is being used in many malaria endemic-striken countries in Africa.

Adam Jagne-Sonko, Deputy Programme Manager at NMCP, confirmed that the introduction of the coartem was characterised by a series of consensus meetings with partners, including MRC, Unicef, CIAM and WHO, with the aim of sharing the magnitude of anti-malarial drug resistance, to develop a strategic framework for the formulation and implementation of the new anti-malarial treatment policy.

Presenting a paper on the overview of the new anti-malarial treatment policy change and the case management strategy, Ms Jagne-Sonko, said the malaria case management guideline was revised to include new drugs, following Cabinet's approval in February this year. She said this change was based on scientific evidence and then implored the general public to comply with the newly introduced anti-malaria drug which, according to her, is  significant in the fight against the killer disease.

According to her, the failure to follow the strict treatment procedure for the previous drug has led to a large number of people developing resistance to the chloroquine. "The new drug is very effective for malaria treatment, but it is not meant for pregnant women and children under 5 years," she emboldened.

Madam Jagne Sonko added that the new drug is 100 per cent effective and then advised people to report to the nearest health facility in case of any reaction caused by the drug.
The NMCP Deputy Programme Manager, said although the drug is very expensive, the fee remains at D5, at any public health facility.
Speaking earlier, NMCP's Programme Manager, Malang Fofana, said his department in collaboration, stressed the importance of change in the policy to kick the disease out of the country. Mr Fofana stressed the need for attitudinal change towards malaria treatment in order to discourage any drug resistance.

Abi Khan, Head of Regional Health Management Team for Banjul, Kanifing Municipality and Western Region, said it is government's priority to ensure quality health care delivery in the country. Ms Khan described the sensitisation as timely, saying that it will help to enhance the reportage of journalists on issues relating to the newly introduced coartem.

At the end of the meeting, journalists mainly drawn from the Association of Health Journalists, pledged to intensify their efforts to raise public awareness about malaria, as well as on the new  drug.