China is planning to establish anti-malaria medical centers in Africa to help the continent get rid of the disease, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Chongli said in Nairobi Thursday.

 

Speaking at the launching ceremony of East Africa Logistic Center for Holley-Cotec, a leading Chinese anti-malarial manufacturer, Guo said the launch of the logistic center will provide necessary assistance to the work of the anti-malaria medical centers.

 

"Recently, the senior officials of Ministry of Commerce from China, accompanied by the specialists from Holley-Cotec, has visited a few African countries, including Kenya, and planned to establish anti-malaria centers in Africa," the Chinese ambassador said.

 

"I think the launch of Holley-Cotec East Africa Logistic Center will no doubt provide necessary assistance to the effective work of the anti-malaria medical centers and the Kenyan hospitals as well." Guo noted.

 

Malaria is the world's worst parasitic infection accounting for 300-500 million clinical cases, more than 80 percent occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. It has the greatest death toll on very young children, pregnant women and the non-immunes.

 

New analyses show that malaria accounts for 20 percent of all young child deaths in Africa, 30 percent of all clinic visits and 25 percent of all hospital admission in endemic countries.

 

Holley-Cotec is a research-based company developing original compounds such as the well known Cotecxin. It introduced the artemisinin-based anti-malarial to Africa in 1993, which has since won wide acknowledgment and acclaim on the continent.

 

In March 2005, the company launched its new Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) medicine Duo-Cotecxin in Kenya. The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly recommended the use of ACT in the treatment of malaria in order to protect artemisinin derivatives which remain the only truly efficient anti-malarial available.

 

According to officials of Holley-Cotec, with the expanding of its business in the African market, the company has established quite a few subordinate companies and branch offices in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and Uganda. The establishment of East Africa Logistics Center in Kenya is aimed at guaranteeing sufficient and timely supply with lower costs.

 

Holley-Cotec pharmaceutical group belongs to a big multinational group Holley Pharm Group, number one in the world for the production of artemisinin.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2006)