The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially banned the use of monotherapy drugs, including artesunate and artemether injections, chloroquine, and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP), for the treatment of malaria.
The decision, announced by health authorities, is part of the country’s ongoing efforts to curb the growing resistance to malaria treatments. Monotherapy, which involves using a single drug to treat the disease, has been found to be less effective in combating malaria due to the parasite’s evolving resistance.
The government is now encouraging the use of combination therapies, specifically Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT), which is regarded as the most effective treatment for malaria in the country. Health officials have emphasized that this ban is essential to protect public health and ensure more effective management of the disease.
This move aligns with global health recommendations and aims to bolster Nigeria’s fight against malaria, a disease that remains one of the country’s most significant public health challenges.
