Experts Urge Rethinking of Malaria Strategy as Severe Disease Rises Among Older Children
Medical experts in Uganda are calling for an updated malaria strategy as severe cases rise among older children and adolescents. The discussion highlights the need for faster diagnosis and treatment to combat evolving strains of the disease.
Why it matters
Shifting demographics in malaria severity require updated clinical guidelines and pharmaceutical strategies to prevent increased mortality in school-age populations.
KAMPALA — Uganda is being urged to rethink its malaria strategy as doctors warn of a growing burden of severe disease among school-age children and adolescents, increasing pressure on existing medicines and the need for faster treatment of patients who deteriorate rapidly.
The warning was made during a Continuing Medical Education session on “Emerging Malaria Strains & Evolving Management Strategies” held at Four Points Hotel, Kampala, on Thursday.
The event was organised by Ajanta Pharma Limited, an Indian pharmaceutical company that manufactures generic medicines, including antimalarial drugs used in Uganda.
Led by its Managing Director, Yogesh Agrawal, the company’s involvement comes as Uganda continues to update its malaria treatment guidance, with the Ministry of Health currently publishing guidance on artemether-lumefantrine, dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and treatment failure.
Ajanta Pharma’s primary antimalarial brand is Artefan, an artemether and lumefantrine combination available in multiple strengths as a generic equivalent to Novartis’s Coartem.
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