MIND LINES AGAINST GUIDELINES IN TREATMENT OF MALARIA …
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adhering to standard treatment guidelines. Most of the prescribers were unaware
of the standard treatment guidelines and have never received any training on
them. The standard treatment guidelines were not available in any of the
healthcare facilities. This clearly reflects on the poor implementation of standard
treatment guidelines for malaria in the country. However, adherence of
prescribers with the standard treatment guidelines was significantly improved
after receiving training on them in Nigeria (16).
5. CONCLUSION
The present study revealed that despite the availability of standard
treatment guidelines in the country, the pattern of prescription in terms of
adherence and rationality remains poor.
There is an urgent need to implement standard treatment guidelines and
develop ways and means to ensure their availability and adherence of prescribers
to them in the healthcare facilities. Malaria control program must play its role
more effectively and should arrange special training programs for the prescribers
on standard treatment guidelines.
Regular continuing medical education (CME) must be made mandatory for
the prescribers to attend, so as to update their knowledge. A check on the influence
of pharmaceutical companies and their representatives needs to be maintained in
health institutions, to minimize their influence on the drug prescription. All these
measures would go a long way in provision of more rational, economical, and
effective treatment to the patients and control of the disease.
5. REFERENCES
1.
Juncosa, B., (2008) Antibiotic Resistance: Blame It on Lifesaving Malaria Drug?,
Scientific American., 2008, July,21
2.
Chukwuani, C., Onifade, M. and Sumonu K.(2002). Survey of drug use practices and
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Science, 24(5): 188-‐195.
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Le Grand, A., Hogerzeil, H.V. and Haaijer-‐Ruskamp, F.M. (1999) Intervention research in
rational use of drugs: a review. Health Policy and Planning,. 14(2): 89.
4.
Directorate of Malaria Control and WHO (2005) National treatment guidelines for
malaria,.
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Nizamani, A., Kalar, N.A. and. Khushk, I.A (2006) Burden of malaria in Sindh, Pakistan: a
two years surveillance report. J. Liaqat Uni. Med. Health Sci., 5: 76-‐83
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Meremikwu,M., Okomo,U., Nwachukwu, Ch., Oyo-‐ItaA., Eke-‐Njoku,J., Okebe1, J., Oyo-‐Ita,E.
and Garner, P. ( 2007) Antimalarial drug prescribing practice in private and public
health facilities in South-‐east Nigeria: a descriptive study. Malar J. 6(55).
doi:10.1186/1475-‐2875-‐6-‐55
