KENYA BANS USE OF SULPHUR-BASED MALARIA DRUGS

The government of Kenya has banned the use of sulphur-based drugs in the treatment of malaria, according to local reports.The drugs will be replaced by artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), which has been shown to be more effective against the disease.

Director of Medical Services James Nyikal noted that sulphur-based drugs (SPs), which have been in use for the past two years, have developed vector resistance. "It is worrying to hear that out of every four persons treated, one will not recover," he said, citing recent statistics.

The Kenyan government recently set aside $21 million for the purchase of ACT drugs for malaria, which kills approximately 34,000 people in the country each year.