Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\04\26\story_26-4-2008_pg11_3
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Doctors advised against banned malaria drugs prescription
ISLAMABAD: The Directorate of Malaria Control (DOMC) has advised doctors not to prescribe banned anti-malaria drugs medicine including Halfin, Artemesinin Monotherapies and Choloroquine for being harmful to human health.
Dr Faisal Mansoor of the DOMC said during a World Malaria Day function here that doctors had been prescribing the banned anti-malaria drugs due to lack of awareness of the heath ministry?s ban on them.
He said prescription of such drugs contributed to growing malaria morbidity and mortality rate. He said weakening health systems, deteriorating sanitation, climatic changes, periodic changes in weather patterns and population displacement due to conflicts or natural disasters were also causing the malaria incidence to grow.
Health Secretary Khushnood Lashari said that strenuous efforts were underway to control malaria in the country. He said malaria was highly endemic in Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP and FATA. He said the country reported 1.6 million malaria cases every year and 70 million people were provided with treatment against the disease. He later distributed shields to selected journalists, representatives of NGOs and health department officials for creating public awareness of malaria and enlightening policymakers on ways and means to grapple with the issue.
A Daily Times reporter, Jamila Achakzai, received the award in the journalist category. PAIMAN (the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns), an NGO, sponsored the awards.
Malaria Day observed: The Health Directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday observed World Malaria Day and organised an exhibition to create awareness of this deadly disease among masses. On this occasion, the directorate established a free malaria diagnosis camp where pamphlets about the disease and its prevention were distributed among the visitors. Thermal fogging and spray machines were also displayed.
?Malaria is the second most prevalent and devastating disease in our country. Major malaria transmission season in Pakistan is post-monsoon,? said a senior health official of CDA Dr Saeed Ahmed. staff report
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Doctors advised against banned malaria drugs prescription
ISLAMABAD: The Directorate of Malaria Control (DOMC) has advised doctors not to prescribe banned anti-malaria drugs medicine including Halfin, Artemesinin Monotherapies and Choloroquine for being harmful to human health.
Dr Faisal Mansoor of the DOMC said during a World Malaria Day function here that doctors had been prescribing the banned anti-malaria drugs due to lack of awareness of the heath ministry?s ban on them.
He said prescription of such drugs contributed to growing malaria morbidity and mortality rate. He said weakening health systems, deteriorating sanitation, climatic changes, periodic changes in weather patterns and population displacement due to conflicts or natural disasters were also causing the malaria incidence to grow.
Health Secretary Khushnood Lashari said that strenuous efforts were underway to control malaria in the country. He said malaria was highly endemic in Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP and FATA. He said the country reported 1.6 million malaria cases every year and 70 million people were provided with treatment against the disease. He later distributed shields to selected journalists, representatives of NGOs and health department officials for creating public awareness of malaria and enlightening policymakers on ways and means to grapple with the issue.
A Daily Times reporter, Jamila Achakzai, received the award in the journalist category. PAIMAN (the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns), an NGO, sponsored the awards.
Malaria Day observed: The Health Directorate of Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Friday observed World Malaria Day and organised an exhibition to create awareness of this deadly disease among masses. On this occasion, the directorate established a free malaria diagnosis camp where pamphlets about the disease and its prevention were distributed among the visitors. Thermal fogging and spray machines were also displayed.
?Malaria is the second most prevalent and devastating disease in our country. Major malaria transmission season in Pakistan is post-monsoon,? said a senior health official of CDA Dr Saeed Ahmed. staff report