Bring back Choloroquine
It is still the ultimate organic anti-malaria drug…
Sam Mwaka-karama
Prices of very essential drugs especially anti-malaria have soared prohibitively from what the drugs used to cost up-till 2007… following dramatic exclusion of choloroquine from the position of top-of-the-range pharmaceutical drugs that treated malaria effectively for decades since Independence.
Choloroquine as the only authentic organic treatment-drug against malaria could not have suddenly gone so bad as to not be able to cure malaria it has been curing for decades…
This argument and debate (that either the drug had weakened or malaria had become overly resistant to the drug) was discovered and created by enemies of Africa, those who wanted to substitute this drug with untrustworthy ineffective versions; suggesting that choloroquine had suddenly weakened to a point it cured malaria no more - this is not true… the professionals have to retract - and make better here.
The other reason for side-lining choloroquine in Uganda is due to its supposed powerful side effect - ultimately associated to causes of blindness. (Adverse effect - Wikipedia - states; “At the doses used for prevention of malaria, side effects include gastrointestinal problems such as stomach aches, (uncomfortable) body itch, headaches and blurred vision”. This dose (besides the side-effect) is standard oral prescription, and still works.
Nothing is wrong with Choloroquine (the organic) original….
The dose Wikipedia talks about is standard oral treatment; (12 tablets @ 4-4-2-2, with piriton or antezine - for the itching) - here what the professionals should be talking about is the person to person discipline; to take this dose at the correct time-setting (every six hours with full meal) to avoid lowering of blood pressure and to engage the enzymes at work by constant digestion of the food and juices taken. Observe this and the organic choloroquine will not fail you… (I will tell you straight though, that out of 100 people, up to 80 will not take the drug in that correct time-setting, with meals and juices - and 10 won’t touch it for fear of side effect, those 10 will be carried on the stretcher to the emergency ward… and the last 10, are the ones who have the absolute discipline.
This essentially is where things went wrong between the professionals and the people for whom they are qualified to practice… treatment of malaria needs lots of (patient) personal discipline - what can only develop as a state-of-mind after thorough understanding of the ailment, the drug and the situation pre and post treatment. The professionals failed here: effect of malaria on the mind and body - effect of the mostly oral (and very personal) state of treatment - then effect of the treatment duration (roughly 48 hours from start) on the mind and body - and effect of the post treatment (roughly 60 hours from start) - Altogether a person who buys the drug from the clinic and treats himself/herself needs about 70 hours of absolute discipline and focused keenness to concentrate on absolutely completing that standard oral prescription. 80% of the sick don’t have the concentration or discipline - they break-off mid-way soon as they seem out of danger, thus failing to complete the dose prescribed… they might take the drug on empty stomach (I have no appetite) creating complications. They might drink a beer or even the hard stuff soon after taking choloroquine… the complexes are endless!
Definition of Quinine (from where comes choloroquine)… Wikipedia and Medical News - sites.
“Quinine - is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic (fever reducing), anti- malarial, analgesic (pain killing), anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of (guanidine) which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic.
Though it has been synthesized in the lab by the professionals - the bark of the cinchona tree “Kina” is the only known source of quinine.
The medicinal properties of the cinchona tree were originally discovered by the Quechua Indians of Peru and Bolivia; later the Portuguese Jesuits were the first to bring cinchona to Europe…” The source of quinine is therefore naturally organic.
Introduction
1. Quinine is a natural alkaloid that has been used in medicine since the late 1700s. Known mostly for its ability to treat malaria, the drug is still popular today. Although quinine has also been used for relieving chronic leg cramps, the Food and Drug Administration has not officially approved the drug for anything other than malaria.
Malaria
2. Malaria is a disease caused by a protozoan parasite, largely spread by contact with infection-carrying mosquitoes. Once inside a person, the malaria protozoa start to break down the hemoglobin in the red blood cells into two separate substances, harem and globin. The parasite continues to grow and reproduce, breaking apart the red blood cells in the body as it multiplies. This effectively causes an outbreak of malaria.
How Quinine Works
3. Quinine works by interrupting malaria's reproductive course. To duplicate, a malaria parasite needs DNA. Quinine enters the bloodstream with the malaria parasite and binds itself to the DNA of the parasite. This blocks the parasite from reproducing itself. Once the parasite can no longer copy itself, the body can catch up, fight off the original infection and recover.
Other Ways Quinine Works
4. Quinine is also sometimes prescribed for muscle cramps. Quinine works this way by delaying the amount of time it takes for muscles to contract. With the muscle unable to contract as quickly and as often, the muscle cramp is relieved.
Side Effects
5. Quinine should not be used by those with heart issues, including irregular heartbeat, decreased function of the heart due to heart block or atrial fibrillation. Those with heart disease or a recent heart attack should not take quinine, as it may cause serious heart-related side effects. Those taking quinine may also experience a rash, kidney failure, headaches, confusion, abdominal pain and swelling of the face and lips. Additional information on side effects of quinine can be found at the link listed in Resources (linked to this page).
Researched authentic report re-validates choloroquine and, down-grades the new drugs (Fancida & Coatem).
PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT
Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i
MALARIA DRUG FOUND INEFFECTIVE
Mosquito-borne disease resistant to Fancida
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, September 2, 2009) – Fancida, one of the drugs that is given to patients as treatment for malaria has been found in a preliminary study to have high resistance.
This was stated in a report given yesterday by Dr Celine Barnabas from PNG Institute of Medical Research at the medical symposium underway at the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
She said this confirmed information that was known for some time that Fancida could not be given alone.
"Fancida is to be given in combination with other drugs and may be discarded one day,’’ she said, adding this would be done after more research had been done and when the Health Department had alternatives.
The finding was made from a survey that analyzed parasites carrying malaria and how they mutate, some of which related to the ineffectiveness of Fancida.
She said laboratory tools were used to look at the plasmodium vivax malaria that had been sparked recently by the description of severe cases of the disease, reemergence in different areas and reports of drug resistance.
Health Minister Sasa Zibe said he wants to see the newly-introduced anti-malarial ARCO distributed for use at the public health facilities. This drug is distributed by Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd and is taken as one single dose.
World Health Organisation is promoting another drug called Coatem which is taken for three days.
"I want to ask WHO to explain why they want Coatem because as compared to ARCO, you take one single dose,’’ he said.
The drug, ARCO, was launched in Port Moresby three years ago by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and is under clinical trials before it will be decided by the Government through the Health Ministry whether it should be accepted as one of the drugs to treat malaria.
Papua New Guinea Post-Courier: www.postcourier.com.pg/
Copyright © 2009 PNG Post-Courier. All Rights Reserved
Go back to Pacific Islands Report: Graphics or Text Only.
Papua New Guinea - and the Pacific Islands have tropical experiences:
The self explanatory in-set document above is part of a greater ‘Pacific Islands Report’ released in September 2009, from the University of Papua New Guinea, School of Medicine - depicts ‘Fancida’ as a drug malarial-virus-is-resistant to.
In Uganda ‘Fancida’ is overpriced and sold in a questionable single dose (three tablets) prescription that doesn’t cure malaria.
While ‘Coatem’ on introduction nearly two years ago sold at a whooping 15,000 UGX per complete dose that has to be repeated… twice or three times.
World Health Organization - backed ‘Fancida’ and ‘Coatem’ are already a non-starter. While the original Choloroquine are still selling online… what is all these?
Africans should wake-up to the facts that, history of the choloroquine and quinine and their organic tree roots still outweigh both Fancida and Coatem, in the fight against malaria. Google search - does not come-out with search results for ‘roots of Fancida and Coatem’… A search generally does not yield satisfactory indications. This is serious considering the fact that these drugs are being highlighted as the legitimate alternative to Choloroquine. It is even more disturbing that pharmacy operators become annoyed when someone walks in asking for choloroquine…
The two WHO backed drugs may not have authentic roots. Or could they be mere “Coats”? **** (I first published this in the 'University Post' - Kampala)
Sam Mwaka-karama
Analyst/Editor
The Movement Times
Kampala - Uganda
