The Malaria Business: Big Pharma vs Natural Medicine: Artemisia is Wrestling Malaria

By Roperfree

Malaria kills about half a million people a year and many in the Sub- Saharan countries. 

Mosquitoes are becoming more resistant to the insecticides so new tools have to be sought! That is why Roperfree introduced Roperfree mosquito repellent oils which have been so effective in deterring mosquito bites & fighting malaria.

Roperfree would like to see other medicinal plants like artemisia to be used naturally to fight malaria which could be cost effective in the developing countries like; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda etc..

       Artemisian Plant

Artemisia is very effective plant in treatment of malaria but it has not been approved by the WHO to be used naturally and it was banned by number of countries for no good reasons except for the financial gains because it is not dangerous, poisonous or drug to cause harm but only to compete with other anti malaria businesses which means that malaria has turned out to be a big business while many lives are being affected. Financial interest vs. human lives seems to be the order of the day in malaria which is turning into big business not to mess about!

While artemisia plant was banned in some countries but WHO has not produced any report for the ban of a very useful plant like artemisia in those countries.

Malaria endemic countries should find urgent solution to combat malaria using natural remedy as to reduce mortality rate especially in the most vulnerable groups such as; children below five years and pregnant mothers but the solution is right under our feet to encourage the planting and using of artemisia plant which could grow well in most of the tropical countries which are the most affected countries with malaria but most pharmaceutical business do not like the use of artemisia as natural remedy because it would affects their businesses.

In 1964 malaria ceased to exist in Europe, when the battle against mosquito started so did the parasite and the first mass solution was quinine extracted from tree bark and the first drug to treat malaria sold under the name of chloroquine and so begun the malaria business.

The Vietnam War revealed an alternative treatment and the Americans took chloroquine to prevent and treat malaria but the communist troops lacking the prevention & treatment had a big setback during the war as many were wiped out by the disease. The communist leader Ho Chi Minh sent a message to China who offered to send medicinal plant called artemisia annua.

Artemisia annua is herb, traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat fever, inflammation, and malaria. A compound in artemisia was shown to be effective in treating malaria in a clinical trial. Another case study showed that artemisia was effective in treating chronic bladder infection.

Artemisia was widely used in China to treat malaria but the Western countries had no interest in this type of medicinal plant substance. In the early 80’s malaria bounced back and killed on big scale and chloroquine was not sufficient enough due to resistance. The Chinese medicine with artemisia started to be used in Africa but the artemisia could not kill all the parasites and the new effective drug was developed called the artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) which was approved by the WHO as one the most effective malaria therapy up to today!

Now the ball is in the hands of all malaria endemic countries with the malaria control programs of individual countries to encourage and persuade people to grow and use artemisia annual herbal plants as medicinal plant therapy for malaria and to be taken as tea or used as first line treatment before seeking medical attention. 

The artemisia plants should be grown on industrial scale for export to China which makes the ACT (Artemisinin Based Combination Therapy); this will boost the economic growth and people who are affected with malaria to benefit from artemisia plants in form of earning income. Malaria cause poverty so by growing the artemisia plants for Chinese pharmaceuticals would benefit to alleviate poverty in malaria endemic countries.

Roperfree a social enterprise company came into existence to provide solution to problem of malaria endemic countries in order to save lives & Roperfree Brand Products can be purchased on major e-commerce platforms such as; Amazon, eBay and Jumia or via the following outlets in and around Kampala: 

Cathy's Massage Parlor at Backpackers - Mengo-Kampala

Backpackers Hostel & Campsite- Mengo-Kampala 

Numack Pharmacy- Mengo, Kampala

Aidchild- Equation Gallery & Art cafe, Mbarara-Masaka Road

Kenjoy Supermarket- Najjanankumbi on Entebbe Road

Beauty Dreams Shop. No 63 Pioneer Mall, Kampala

Spring Pharmacy-Wilson Rd, Kampala

Mega Supermarket; Old taxi park & Garden City Mall

Friecca Pharmacy- Wandegeya

Majex Pharmacy- Kajjansi

West-Link Pharmacies; Lubowa Quality Village Mall- Lubowa & Kitende

Asian African commodities-Italian Supermarket; Muyenga- Kabalagala

John-Rich Supermarket- Kabalagala

Kasumba Square-Busega, Kampala

Malakai- Eco- Hotel- Kitende (for guest’s access only)

Eureka Hotel- Ntinda (on pilot project)

Ssese Beach Hotel- Ssese Island (for guests only)