[afro-nets] Gov't, MSF Clash Over Malaria Treatment

[Dr Rana Jawad Asghar <jawad@alumni.washington.edu>]

Gov't, MSF Clash Over Malaria Treatment
---------------------------------------


UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

December 22, 2003
Posted to the web December 22, 2003
http://allafrica.com/stories/200312220005.html

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia's health ministry has clashed with the aid agency
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) over malaria treatment in the
midst of a major epidemic threatening 15 million people.

MSF is urging the government to implement a cocktail of drugs
which have been given preliminary approval by the World Health
Organisation (WHO).

  But the ministry says that calls by the NGO to change anti-
malarial drugs during an epidemic were potentially dangerous and
could cost 10 times the existing treatment.

In a statement, the ministry said changes in treatment policies
caused "serious planning, implementation and sustainability
problems".

MSF claims the combination treatment is far more effective. It
says the number of deaths following the outbreak earlier this
year has increased threefold.

The government is currently carrying out tests on the new method
- known as Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACT) - and is ex-
pected to announce the results early next year.

But MSF says the drugs should be used now and argues that cur-
rent treatments are proving ineffective during the epidemic.

Annick Hamel, MSF spokeswoman in Ethiopia, said death rates had
increased threefold in the areas where MSF works.

"We assume there is a link because of the mortality rate and the
increase in malaria," she said. "You need to use those drugs if
you want to reduce the strength of the epidemic."

"It is true they (ACT drugs) are a lot more expensive but mecha-
nisms like the global fund are in place so that funding can be
made available," Annick told IRIN.

According to the health ministry, some 448 districts in Ethiopia
are currently at risk of malaria - potentially some 46 million
people.

The UN has also expressed concern that if the government were to
switch treatment during the epidemic there are simply not enough
of the new combination drugs available.

In a report to international organisations - currently funding a
massive anti-malarial drive - the UN states that new treatment
could cost up to US $30 million.

In October, the UN appealed for US $5.8 million to help fight
the epidemic but so far is still facing a US $1 million short-
fall.

Drug treatment for malaria in Ethiopia has to have the go-ahead
of the government which issues protocols to medical agencies for
the distribution of drugs.

Currently four different drugs are being used in the country.
The UN's Children's Fund (UNICEF) and WHO say extensive training
would be needed for a new treatment

--
Dr Rana Jawad Asghar
Program Manager Child Survival, Mozambique
Provincial Coordinator Sofala Province, Mozambique
Health Alliance International, Seattle, WA, USA
http://depts.washington.edu/haiuw/
Coordinator South Asian Public Health Forum
http://www.saphf.org
mailto:jawad@alumni.washington.edu
http://www.DrJawad.com