Ensuring access to Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACTs)

Roll Back Malaria has advised that by 2010, 80% of malaria patients should be diagnosed and treated with effective antimalarial medicines within 24 hours of the onset of illness.

The government of Rwanda responded with the nationwide distribution of Artemether Lumafantrine (Coartem®) in October 2006. Coartem® is a World Health Organization approved ACT. Rwandan health workers in dispensaries and hospitals were trained in 2006 to ensure the proper distribution and correct usage of the drug.

Rwanda introduced a home-based management of malaria program in 2004 which was treating more than 400,000 children under 5 at the community level in 2006. Oover 80% of children with fever were found to access appropriate treatment within 24 hours, through community health workers in districts where the strategy was being implemented

Africa Malaria Day 2007 brings a coordinated partnership-based launch of a pre-packaged ACT labelled as Primo, developed with the support of PSI The Government of Rwanda is introducing Primo to scale up ACT delivery for malaria treatment through community based channels and private. Pre-packaged treatment (PPT) plays a key role in improving home-based management of malaria. By combining clear illustrated instructions with an easy-to-use blister pack of appropriate treatment, PPT helps mothers and caregivers treat their child with the correct dose and improve adherence with the full course. Funding from the goverment of Rwanda, The Belgium Technical Cooperation, Global fund and PMI and will make the realisation of this project possible.