Before Artenam was phased, it was a wonder drug for many.
Josephine would purchase a dose of Artenam at any drug shop whenever she suspected malaria.
“Artenam never gave me any side effects. I would immediately feel better. it was just conveient,” she says.

These days however, it is not easy to find the drug; following a phase out by the National Drug Authority.
The very much preferred anti- malarial drug was phased out because it was discovered that malaria parasites had become unresponsive to this medicine.
   New types of drugs like coartem, that can completely destroy malaria parasites have now been  introduced.
Many do not understand why drugs have to be changed all the time.
In the past for example chloroquine was a drug of choice, then came chloroquine combined with Fansidar, then Artenam and now we have Coartem.
    A senior medical officer in the Monitoring, Evaluation and Research department under Ministry of Health blames the mutation of malaria parasites over time as the main reason behind the change of malaria treatment so often.
  The mutation has been facilitated by various factors, some of which we have control over.
lTreating malaria with counterfeit drugs.
   Counterfeit drugs do not contain the right percentages of chemicals needed to completely destroy malaria parasites. For example, instead of say, 100% of chemical, only 30% may be used .
lIgnoring prescription guidelines.
    A drug like coartem is supposed to be taken after the patient has eaten. Otherwise it will not be properly absorbed.
lMedicating without prior testing.
This is one of the major reasons why drugs are changed overtime.
Most people diagonise their own sicknessess from symptoms that may not be accurate. One must test before taking medication.
This with time causes body resistence to the drug such that when it is taken, it will not work.
lFailure to complete a dose.
  Half– dose does not fully destroy the parasites but just weakens them. After sometime, the malaria comes back.
And even after you decide to take a fresh dose this time round, malaria may not cure because the parasites developed some resistance with the un-finished dose.
lUse of discouraged drugs for treating malaria.
Much as chloroquine and fansidar are not recommended for treatment of malari, after studies showed that most people do not respond to them, some people are still using them.
Yes, some of them get well, but others fail to respond to the drug because the parasites have grown resistant.
   An even better way to curb Malaria is to take preventive measures.
Sleep under a mosquito net, slash tall grasses in and aroundyour compound, drain all stagnant water: This should keep awaymosquitoes, rather than going through the process of cure.

Christine Namatovu is a clinical officer at the Allan Galpin Health Centre.