China is planning to establish anti-malaria medical centers in
Africa to help the continent get rid of the disease, Chinese
Ambassador to Kenya Guo Chongli said in Nairobi Thursday.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of East Africa Logistic
Center for Holley-Cotec, a leading Chinese anti-malarial
manufacturer, Guo said the launch of the logistic center will
provide necessary assistance to the work of the anti-malaria
medical centers.
"Recently, the senior officials of Ministry of Commerce from
China, accompanied by the specialists from Holley-Cotec, has
visited a few African countries, including Kenya, and planned to
establish anti-malaria centers in Africa," the Chinese ambassador
said.
"I think the launch of Holley-Cotec East Africa Logistic Center
will no doubt provide necessary assistance to the effective work of
the anti-malaria medical centers and the Kenyan hospitals as well."
Guo noted.
Malaria is the world's worst parasitic infection accounting for
300-500 million clinical cases, more than 80 percent occurring in
sub-Saharan Africa. It has the greatest death toll on very young
children, pregnant women and the non-immunes.
New analyses show that malaria accounts for 20 percent of all
young child deaths in Africa, 30 percent of all clinic visits and
25 percent of all hospital admission in endemic countries.
Holley-Cotec is a research-based company developing original
compounds such as the well known Cotecxin. It introduced the
artemisinin-based anti-malarial to Africa in 1993, which has since
won wide acknowledgment and acclaim on the continent.
In March 2005, the company launched its new Artemisinin
Combination Therapy (ACT) medicine Duo-Cotecxin in Kenya. The World
Health Organization (WHO) has strongly recommended the use of ACT
in the treatment of malaria in order to protect artemisinin
derivatives which remain the only truly efficient anti-malarial
available.
According to officials of Holley-Cotec, with the expanding of
its business in the African market, the company has established
quite a few subordinate companies and branch offices in Kenya,
Tanzania, Nigeria and Uganda. The establishment of East Africa
Logistics Center in Kenya is aimed at guaranteeing sufficient and
timely supply with lower costs.
Holley-Cotec pharmaceutical group belongs to a big multinational
group Holley Pharm Group, number one in the world for the
production of artemisinin.
(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2006)
