Luanda - The National Programme for Malaria Control will place this year, as from March, in the country’s health centres, a new model of Coartem (dissolvable), in order to facilitate the acceptance of the medicine in children from six months to eight years old.

Speaking to ANGOP, the coordinating officer of the National Malaria Control Programme, Francisco Teles, said the new format of the medicine does not differ in terms of composition, effectiveness and effect compared to the previous one.

According to the official, Coartem- children, whose supplies are expected to arrive in the country soon, is easily dissolved in water, has a sweet taste and attractive aroma to children, which will help to reduce its rejection by them.

To date, he said, the target group uses doses of six tablets for children from six months to three years old and 12 for those aged four to eight.

According to a WHO report (2007/2009) on the malaria situation, Angola had a 30 percent decrease in death rate from this disease, due to the increase in terms of controlling actions and the introduction of combination therapy (Coartem) in 2006.