Rwanda tops EA in anti-Malaria drive

Rwanda tops other regional states in the implementation of Malaria roadmaps in East Africa, scoring 89 percent followed by Kenya with 65 percent.Addressing delegates from 12 countries at a five-day regional meeting on Malaria, the representative of Roll Back Malaria, Dr Betty Boi Udom, commended Rwanda for her achievements in the fight against the disease. The road maps highlight proper diagnosis and effective malaria treatment, integrated management vector control, distribution of mosquito nets, indoor residue spraying, monitoring and evaluation, among others.The Director General of the Malaria Unit at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Dr. Corine Karema, confirmed that the country is indeed on track in the implementation of the EA roadmap activities to kick out Malaria.“92 percent of patients with malaria are treated within a period of 24 hours. Malaria incidence has also reduced by 70 percent and 82 percent of the Rwandan population are also using mosquito nets,” Karema disclosed.She added that the country slapped a ban on monotherapy in 2006 which had proven to be ineffective and resistant in the treatment of the disease.The Minister of Health, Agnes Binagwaho, who was present at the meeting, called upon other countries to come to a common agreement and ban the monotherapy drug and harmonise malaria treatment.“We also need to have a strong health system to eliminate malaria out of Africa. However, we need to build capacity from universities, like Rwanda has done, so you don’t have to seek for technical support from other people,” Binagwaho advised.She cited the procurement of mosquito nets as a challenge, noting that one has to procure the items from India a year in advance, yet, at times, there is a long list of countries in need.Binagwaho called upon African countries to set up factories to manufacture mosquito nets to avoid overreliance on India.Tanzanian representative, Dr.Mohammed Ali, said that he hoped to learn a lot on the prevention and elimination of Malaria from Rwanda and other countries.

National

Rwanda tops EA in anti-Malaria drive