Uganda has over 1.5 million people affected by the HIV virus. The government is procuring the primary drug to treat them from this company.
Kampala, Uganda – The Government has called upon experts and scientists to conduct further research into a local medicinal herb, aiming to scientifically validate its efficacy and harness its potential for developing new treatments.
The directive was delivered on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, during the launch of a new anti-malaria drug produced by Quality Chemicals. The President commended the role of scientists in the fight against malaria.
While Quality Chemicals has been operating for 20 years, it had previously focused on producing drugs for major diseases. The new ART represents a significant step in local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Uganda has over 1.5 million people affected by HIV. The government is procuring the primary drug to treat them from this company.
The government also acknowledged the company's contribution to national development through tax revenue and job creation for Ugandans.
Alongside the new ART, the company also launched a research lab. This is a major relief, as the number of daily deaths from malaria has drastically reduced from 400 to 15.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa, alongside the Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, also commissioned a modern laboratory and planted a commemorative tree to expand the facility's capacity.
This factory is the largest producer of ART drugs in Africa, distributing its products to 34 countries, according to its founder, Emmanuel Katongole.
Uganda has set an ambitious target to eliminate malaria by 2030. The current focus is on scaling up efforts to ensure all infected individuals have access to medication and on containing the spread of the virus.
