Dr. Krisana Kraisintu, industrial phamacist, and Miss Saowalak Pornwilassiri, first secretary to the Royal Thai Embassy in Dakar were staying at Hotel Djenné Djenno a couple of days ago. These two are involved in a really good scheme: they are attempting to start the manufacture of cheap anti-malarial drugs in Mali.
The greatest cause of death is still malaria here, by a large measure, and that is due to the scandalous prices of the treatment available. A course of treatment with the European or American commercially produced drugs available here costs in the region of 6000 FCFA. As a comparison a domestic maid in an African home earns about 5-6000 FCFA a month.
The indomitable Dr. Kraisintu is about to change that with the help of the Thai government. She has already started an initiative in Kenya, where her highly effective drug is already produced at a fraction of the cost of the imported drugs. Now she is cranking up some venerable old Chinese pharmaceutical machines in Bamako, relics from 46 years ago and President Modibo Keita's flirtation with China at the beginning of independence.
The drug will be called Thamasunate here. Good luck to this formidable lady and her initiative.