Date: 2012-02-19

Dr Michael Oguntoye, Head of Disease Control, Kwara Ministry of Health, on Thursday, said the state would benefit from the new Artesunate based combination therapy (ACT) drugs. 
In an interview with Newsmen in Ilorin, Oguntoye disclosed that the drugs would be distributed by the Global Fund.
He said that the Kwara government is adhering to the directives of World Health Organization (WHO) so that people will benefit from ACT drugs that would be distributed.
According to Oguntoye, ACT drugs clears malaria parasite from the body system within 48 hours on the onset of treatment, adding that it is a combination of two drugs in one.
He said WHO recommended that ACT drugs should be used in countries where malaria is endemic.
"Malaria parasite is becoming increasingly resistant to chloroquine in most parts of the world and research has shown that ACT is efficient."
Oguntoye said that the Global Fund had been donating drugs to Nigeria through various recipients, including the Federal Government and the private sector.
He said that the sector, in conjunctacion with the Fund, will sell the drugs at a highly subsidized rate, which would be affordable for the masses.
Oguntoye added that it is also a policy of the Federal Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Programme, to adopt the use of ACT as first line drug for the treatment of malaria in the country. (NAN)