Novartis to provide antimalarial treatments to Zambian children

Novartis has announced new plans to provide paediatric antimalarial therapies to Zambia as part of a long-term collaboration with Malaria No More.

Coming as part of the Power of One campaign, the company will be sending two million Coartem Dispersible treatments to the impoverished African nation. Half of these have been funded through public donations, with Novartis supplying the other 50 percent.

These antimalarials will help to reduce the disease burden in Zambia caused by malaria, which accounts for up to 40 percent of infant mortality across the nation.

Power of One is a global digital fundraising campaign that uses social, mobile and ecommerce channels to enable the public to purchase treatments for children in Zambia. It will be expanded to other countries at a later date.

Joseph Jimenez, chief executive officer of Novartis, said: "Our commitment to Power of One reflects our company's long-term efforts to fight malaria and Novartis remains dedicated to controlling and ultimately eliminating this deadly disease."

Work such as this led to Novartis receiving a global corporate citizenship award from Malaria No More towards the end of last year.