Making the Switch: Ensuring access to improved treatment for severe malaria in Africa

Malaria continues to be the leading cause of death in African children. Of an estimated 781,000 malaria-related deaths reported in 2009, 91% occurred on the African continent, and 85% were among children under the age of five. This report, based on a review of the latest scientific evidence, coupled with information from MSF’s malaria programmes across Africa, highlights some of the important challenges in making this life-saving switch to artesunate for the treatment of severe malaria especially in children, and provides some recommendations for the way forward.