The new drugs, Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine (DHAP) and Artesunate-Pyronaridine (ASPY), are both approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for treating uncomplicated malaria in both children and adults.
Dr. Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, Malaria and Other Parasitic Diseases Division Manager at RBC stated that the reason for introducing these new medicines is that the previous ones, like Coartem, have been ineffective against malaria in Rwanda and other countries. The malaria parasite has developed resistance, making it harder for the old treatment to work.
Mbituyumuremyi explained that the first batch of the new medicines arrived in Rwanda last week and will be distributed to all hospitals under medical supervision, starting January 6, 2024.
He revealed that these new treatments would be used alongside Coartem until April 2025, after which the new drugs will become the primary treatment. 'We will continue training health workers to ensure the proper use of these new medicines, as part of our long-term strategy to eliminate malaria,' he said.
Recently, the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, addressed the recent surge in malaria cases, particularly in districts like Kicukiro, Gasabo, Bugesera, Nyamagabe, and Nyaruguru.
"We found that mosquitoes, due to the prolonged use of certain treatments, have adapted and now bite earlier in the evening before people go indoors. This behavior change has contributed to the rise in malaria cases, and it is crucial to continue using preventive measures like sleeping under treated mosquito nets and eliminating mosquito breeding sites,' Nsanzimana explained.
The Minister also reminded Rwandans that malaria is treatable and curable. "Malaria can be cured, and we urge people to seek treatment early. We have new medicines to complement the existing ones, so there should be no fear of resistance to treatment," he said.
In recent years, the country has seen a significant reduction in malaria cases, with a 90% drop in the number of patients from 4.8 million in 2016 to 620,000 in 2024. However, malaria cases increased by 45.8% from March to October 2024, mainly due to resistance to the old treatments and changes in mosquito behavior.
Nsanzimana urged Rwandans to continue following preventive measures. "We encourage people to continue using mosquito nets and removing potential breeding grounds, such as stagnant water around their homes. Even a small bottle cap can harbor over 2,000 mosquitoes,' he said.
Sam K Nkurunziza
