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Group
discussion for the development of workplan for
Therapeutic Efficacy Surveys (TES) studies (2010-2011)
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The Myanmar National Malaria Control Programme,
in collaboration with WHO Country Office, hosted the workshop to review and plan
therapeutic efficacy surveys to monitor P. falciparum
and P. vivax resistance to antimalarial
drug in the Greater Mekong Subregion in Mandalay, September 30 -
October 2, 2009. The workshop was financially supported by United States
Agency for International Development (USAID).
The workshop was opened by Dr Win Myint, Director General,
Department of Health, Ministry of Health and was attended by representatives
from the national malaria programmes of five Mekong
countries, USAID, Mekong Malaria partners (ACTMalaria,
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, WWARN, US-CDC and Malaria Consortium), and
the WHO Secretariat. Objectives of the meeting included reviewing therapeutic
efficacy surveys done in the Mekong
countries in 2008 and 2009, and to plan surveys in 2010 and 2011.
The Greater Mekong Sub-region is well known as an
epicenter of P. falciparum resistance to antimalarial drugs. All six countries of the Mekong region have introduced artemisinin-based
combination therapies (ACTs), which are currently
the only effective therapies against multidrug-resistant malaria. In 2007,
decreased sensitivity to ACTs was found on the
Thai-Cambodian border. It was concluded that there was a need to strengthen
the surveillance of antimalaria drug resistance in
the region. The Mekong therapeutic efficacy network, managed by WHO-Mekong
Malaria Programme, now has a network of 32 active
sentinel sites and aims to document the geographical extension of P. falciparum resistance to ACTs
and artesunate monotherapy
and P. vivax resistance to chloroquine
in the region.
The results presented at the workshop showed decreasing
efficacy of ACTs not only at the Thai-Cambodian
border, but also in Yunnan, China, on the Sino-Myanmar border, and in
southern Vietnam.
In Myanmar,
especially the results from Kawthaung caused
concern. Partners and donors were impressed by the work done but concerned by
the results, and underlined the need for all involved to respond quickly to
contain any resistance.
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