Since mid 1990��s, WHO and partners have provided technical support to a large number of African countries to promote rational use of antimalarial medicines, monitor medicine efficacy and update treatment policies. In Uganda, resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to Chlororoquine rose to unacceptable levels compelling government to institute an interim malaria treatment policy in 2002. The interim policy recommended a combination treatment composed of Chloroquine and Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (Fansider) as the first line treatment. Unfortunately, resistance to the antimalarial medicines persisted, leading to another change of policy in 2004. The new policy adopted Artemisinin-based Combination Treatment (ACT) as the first line treatment for malaria in Uganda. This was in line with the current WHO recommendation of use of combination therapies, particularly those containing an artemesinin based compound1.
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