The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation has received a major boost up in its efforts to fight malaria in the country after the Global Fund announced Ksh 3.06 billion grant to the Kenyan government.

Speaking during the launch of Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria (AMFm) in Nairobi Thursday, the Minister for Public Health Beth Mugo said a further sh.1.4 billion will go to the interventions of HIV/AIDs in the country as part of government and development partners' efforts to address the scourge.

She added that as part of partner's involvement in other diseases control, the fund has set aside an additional sh.510 million which will see the ministry address problems related to other neglected diseases like Tuberculosis, typhoid and others which continue to claim the lives of Kenyans.

"Through the global funds innovative financing mechanism to expand access to affordable medicines, millions of needy people will now be able to access these medicines" Said Mugo.

The AMFm is an intervention by the Global Fund, Clinton Health Access Initiative and other health partners helping subsidize the price of ACTs by offering financial support to malaria endemic countries to make them affordable.

The financial mechanism saw the reduction of the current price of a full malaria dose which costs Ksh 550 to 40 for adults and Ksh 10 for children.

Lauding the initiative, Mugo said a large proportion of malaria patients are not able to obtain ACTs in a timely manner as the cost of these medicines is too expensive and hence the development will help in the fight against malaria.

"Many resort to buying incomplete doses or cheaper drugs which are no longer effective for the treatment of malaria as these are the options they can afford" Said Mugo.

She said her ministry will not relent to crack down unscrupulous business people who are selling malaria drugs listed as ineffective and that those involved in selling fake drugs will face the full force of the law.

Mugo added that on basis of this subsidy, private medicine distributors will now be able to purchase the ACTs at a much lower cost thus should pass on the benefits of an affordable price to malaria patients.

© 2010 Kenya Broadcasting Corporation