Malaria is one of the major health issues faced by Nigerians. A lot of drugs have been discovered over the years in a bid to combat it. Unfortunately, a lot of people have resolved to self-medications, and most times this tends towards monotherapy. Monotherapy is basically the use of one medicine continuously over time in combating a disease, in this case malaria. Monotherapy medicines for malaria include continuous use of Chloroquine and Artesunate among others.
Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, the national coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Program said that the approved treatment of malaria in Nigeria is the Artemisinin-based combination Therapy (ACTs).
At a meeting on national training for the implementation of the ban on malaria mono-therapy in Abuja, she also stated that this ban has been raised because they are not effective and often times, they lead to resistance.
Represented by Dr. Perpetua Uhomoibhi, she stated that because of the side-effects associated with ACTs, it might not be appropriate for pregnant women, and quinine was recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Dr. Godwin Ntadom, the head case management branch of the National Malaria Elimination Programme also gave his opinion on this as he stated that: “Chloroquine has been banned. Don’t use it to treat malaria, it is not effective. Amodaquine is not recommended. Artesunate only is not recommended in any way. Don’t use halfan, it has been linked to several conditions including heart diseases, so it is not recommended. Don’t also use Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine, it is for pregnant women alone not for the treatment of malaria by individuals.You should use combination treatment all the time.”
ACTs malaria medicines recommended by Dr. Godwin Ntadom include Arthemether-Lumenfantrine, Artesunate-Amodiaquine and others. He recommended that every malaria treatment must have an Artemisinin product combination and treating malaria with only one drug is not advisable.
Culled from: Nursing Nigeria World.
