The Ministry of Health on Tuesday received an antimalarial drug donation worth Sh.73 million from FOSUN PHARMA of China, Health CAS Rashid Aman announced.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Aman said the drug that is being donated is the Artesunate injection 60 mg for treatment of severe malaria, a life-threatening condition and that the donor, is a WHO qualified manufacturer who meets the high standards of manufacturing and quality set.
"The donation consists of 400,000 vials of the injectable drug valued at about Sh73 million. This quantity of drug can treat about 70,000 patients with severe malaria," the CAS said.
In 2019, the country reported 250,000 cases of severe malaria cases treated with artesunate in the public sector with 75% of these being children under the age of 15 years.
The medicine will go a long way in helping the country to buffer stocks for persons with severe malaria.
Aman also stated that interaction between COVID-19 and malaria if at all all there are any, in terms of clinical outcomes, is poorly understood.
He said that what is clear is that symptoms of the two diseases are quite similar, and this can present diagnostic and clinical management problems, especially when diagnostic capabilities are limited.
The malaria symptoms are similar to those of the Covid-19, that is fever, weak joints, lack of appetite among others.
The CAS pointed out that majority of Kenyans who have been getting malaria like symptoms and happen to be suffering from it, have shied away from visiting health facilities and that they are only forced to seek medical attention once their situation worsens.
"Whenever one develops malaria symptoms which are similar to those of Covid-19, they should present themselves for medical attention at our various health facilities, instead of self-medicating," he said.
