Ho, June 7, GNA - The Ghana Health Service has addressed the lapses that accounted for the initial adverse side effects of the new malaria drug, Artesunate Amodiaquine, which has come to replace chloroquine in malaria treatment.

Dr Samuel Abudey, the Jasikan District Director of Health, said this at a one-day training programme for journalists in the Volta Region on the new anti-malaria drug policy.

He explained that the initial problems were as a result of wrong packaging and dosage instructions, which did not take account of the weight of patients.

Dr Abudey said now that Artesunate Amodiaquine has become the new malaria treatment drug in the country, the Food and Drugs Board would have to discourage the manufacture and sale of chloroquine and the use of Artesunate as a monotherapy discouraged.

He said Malafan (sulfadosine-pyrimethamine), should be reserved for malaria prevention in pregnant women.

Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu, the Keta District Director of Health, said the new drug was also safe in managing malaria in pregnant women but must be administered by qualified health workers.