RWANDA—Rwanda has updated its treatment guidelines for malaria as the disease has become resistant to some commonly used medicines. 

For the past six years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized that malaria parasites have started to resist Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which WHO recommends as the first—and second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria.

Now, scientists say millions of lives are at risk unless urgent and radical action is taken to stop drug-resistant malaria from spreading in Africa. 

The 28 malaria scientists from 10 countries made the call to action in the journal Science, as numbers showed that resistance levels have soared in some areas from fewer than 1 percent to more than 20 percent of cases in three years.

Parasites that could resist artemisinin have reportedly spread within various African countries. It is estimated that resistant parasites in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania cause more than 10 percent of malaria cases.

Speaking to The New Times, Dr Aimable Mbituyumuremyi, Malaria Program Manager at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), noted that they know about artemisinin resistance and have taken steps to react to it.

“We have updated our treatment guidelines and are developing the anti-malaria drug resistance strategic plan to address this issue,” he said.

In its 2024 integrated malaria control guidelines, RBC noted that to fight against malaria resistance emerging in Rwanda, it will pilot a Multiple first-line treatment (MFT) strategy, which aims to deploy multiple therapies for malaria.

 As part of it, Rwanda aims to use three ACTs accepted in the country (Artemether Lumefantrine (AL), Dihydroartemisinic- piperaquine (DHAP), and Artesunate -pyronaridine (ASPY), allowing clinicians to select treatment according to established criteria.

The WHO recommends MFT in areas where there is a high risk of drug resistance, including countries like Rwanda.

 The strategy reads, in part, “The findings of the pilot study will inform the adoption and implementation strategies of multiple first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Rwanda.”

According to the malaria program mid-term plan published by the health ministry in 2023, Rwanda has made steady progress toward the epidemiological impact targets.

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