Ramsammy mulls ban on mono therapy drug

Nov 27, 2009 News

By Fareeza Haniff

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has threatened to restrict the importation of artemisinin – a mono therapy drug used to treat malaria – by the private sector.
At a press conference held Wednesday, Minister Ramsammy told reporters that since the new national guidelines for the treatment of malaria were established in 2003, the combination therapy drug has been used to treat malaria infections and is very effective, since it delays and even prevents the infection from resisting the treatment.
However, the minister stressed that the mono therapy drug is a serious problem for the Health Ministry because it is not very effective since it allows the infection to resist the drug.
It was in this regard he noted that the private sector continues to disregard the national guidelines established, as many entities are still importing and using the mono therapy drug.
“The increase in the private sector procuring mono therapy and selling it in the various communities is a troubling thing. They should not procure and sell monotherapies…this puts us at great risk, so I am appealing to them…my patience is going to run out,” Dr. Ramsammy said.
Ramsammy was pellucid that if his appeal is not heeded by the private sector, then he will use his powers as Minister of Health to protect the population by restricting the importation of artemisinin.
“I don’t want to go in that direction but if the private sector does not behave responsibly, I am going to restrict its importation which means I am looking for improvement in this area by the end of December.”
The Health Minister noted that he would gazette the restriction and instruct the Food and Drug Administration inspectors to seize all single dosage treatments that are available in pharmacies across the country.
According to Minister Ramsammy, the progress made in the malaria situation is being severely threatened at this point in time as mining activity in Guyana has increased due to the price of gold, which is now beyond US$1,100 per ounce.
He noted that organised mining by well-established companies, both internationally and locally is being expanded, but in addition, the disorganized mining by small miners is also on the increase.
“I am almost shocked to see how many people like from the East Coast, Berbice and from different parts of the country are living and working in the interior and doing mining on their own…they are not working for somebody, but just doing their own little thing. They are doing their thing away from established communities and those communities that they established are transient ones.”
The small scale mining, he said, is being done in areas and communities where there are no health centres or health posts, and it therefore makes it difficult for health workers to reach these communities since they have to leave their permanent sites.
According to Dr. Ramsammy, more than 90 per cent of all malaria cases are emanating from those sites. “So yes, there are people in the villages with malaria, but those are the people who come with it. At the moment they are not transmitting within the communities, because the communities are dry, but what happens when the rain comes and there are mosquitoes within those communities? It will begin to transmit…”
But proving to be a challenge for the Health Ministry also is the fact that ‘Kaimos’ are established at these mining camps and are occupied by commercial sex workers. To this end, the Health Ministry now plans to merge the malaria, TB and HIV programmes in order to address the issue.

Latest News

Ramsammy mulls ban on mono therapy drug

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Dharry reigns supreme with second-round KO against Ramirez

Rutherford among nominees for ICC Men’s ODI...

Lumumba appointed Advisor to GBA

K&S/One Guyana National Futsal Championships...

Lewis, Gentle defend GTA One Guyana Open Tennis...

Zion Hickerson scores one-year sponsorship with...

Features/Columnists

Consent is not a veto

Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will

Barrels, boxes, and bills

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Ramsammy mulls ban on mono therapy drug

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]