Regional Artemisinin Initiative
PfD is piloting an early warning system in Kratie province to improve tracking the emergence and spread of drug resistant parasites. The approach combines the experience of PfD in implementing interventions towards mobile migrant populations (MMP) and at community level, the expertise of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical medicine (LSHTM) in conducting operational research in Cambodia on MMPs and on drug resistance and the technical skills and expertise of Pasteur Institute in Cambodia (IPC) in molecular epidemiology. The project focuses on the Cambodia-Vietnam border where recent research results have documented the emergence of artemisinin resistant strains in Bin Phuoc province in Vietnam and delayed parasite clearance time in Snuol area in Kratie province (with the potential threat to spread to neighboring Kratie province in Cambodia).
Key Activities:
- Conduct research to inform surveillance of drug resistance and establish an “early warning system”
- Measure drug resistance focusing on K13 (a protein that is strongly linked to artemisinin resistance)
- Strengthen tracking and information systems for MMPs
- Implementation of Plasmodium Falciparum (Pf.) Day 28 follow up and admission of Pf. Day 28 positive patients by health facilities to track drug resistance (train health staff on early diagnosis and treatment (EDAT) and second line treatment based on national treatment guideline; train VMW on EDAT)
PfD is piloting an early warning system in Kratie province to improve tracking the emergence and spread of drug resistant parasites. The approach combines the experience of PfD in implementing interventions towards MMP and at community level, the expertise of LSHTM in conducting operational research in Cambodia on MMPs and on drug resistance and the technical skills and expertise of IPC in molecular epidemiology. The project focuses on the Cambodia-Vietnam border where recent research results have documented the emergence of artemisinin resistant strains in Bin Phuoc province in Vietnam and delayed parasite clearance time in Snuol area in Kratie province (with the potential threat to spread to neighboring Kratie province in Cambodia).