Shoddy malaria drugs don't just hurt malaria patients; they are breeding a stronger strain of malaria and reversing hard-earned progress against its spread. Malaria victims in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are at about a 35% risk of being treated with a fake or ineffective drug, according to a recent study published by the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.
Children are the most common victims of malaria, which claims 1.2 million lives annually.
The solution is not cost prohibitive. Cambodia has already shut down illegal pharmacies. Scientists agree that simple field testing, better regulations, and more international cooperation could put bad drug manufacturers out of business. Ask Kenya to be a leader in cracking down on shoddy malaria drugs, which are doing MUCH more harm than good!
We urge you to fight back against shoddy malaria drugs. Not only are these drugs killing malaria patients whose treatment is at best delayed, they are also enabling a more virulent strain of malaria. You should combat this harmful trade on several fronts. Find and close down illegal laboratories within your borders. Field test drug imports. And cooperate with other countries that are having the same problem. The world will thank you for cracking down on an illegal drug trade which is just as bad as an epidemic.
