| Product category |
|
| Therapeutic indication |
- Pre-referral emergency intervention for severe P. falciparum malaria in children aged 6 months to 6 years and >6h from a treatment centre
|
| Dosing |
For ages 6 months to <3 years – 1 x 100mg suppository, 3 to 6 years - 2 x 100mg suppository Administration should be followed as soon as possible by referral to health facility able to administer parenteral treatment
|
| Efficacy |
Halt progression of disease until patients with severe malaria reach a treatment centre Halves death and disability in children ≤6 years of age affected by severe malaria and living >6 hours from a referral centre
|
| Key features |
|
| Challenges |
Requires close supervision and referral mechanisms to ensure correct use Obtaining switch by countries, currently procuring non-quality assured product to WHO prequalified product
|
| Status |
WHO prequalifed in 2018 100mg rectal artesunate included in WHO Essential Medicines List (April 2017 revision) 1.5 million orders of rectal artesunate in 2018. 85% of orders placed by Global Fund, PMI and UNICEF for 2018 are for 100mg quality assured product - Product registered in 16 malaria-endemic countries (see map).
Implementation program in Zambia supported by MMV resulted in >95% reduction in the severe malaria case fatality rate
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| Next milestone |
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| Previously |
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| MMV Project Director |
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