Horizon SOPYRWA, a subsidiary of Horizon Group in partnership with the Ministry of Health has launched activities to plant trees known as ‘Artemisia Annua’ across the country.
The species is a medicinal plant that repels mosquitoes.
The tree planting activities, which are part of the company’s efforts to support the government’s efforts in fighting against malaria, were carried out during a special nationwide community work on Saturday.
Speaking at Petit Seminaire Nkumba in Burera district during the ceremony to flag off the activity, the Crop Production Manager at Horizon SOPYRWA; Victor Kagayigayi, said that over 51,000 ‘artemisia annua’ tree seedlings had so far been planted across the country
He explained that the plant has its origin in China and Eastern Asia in the family of Asteraceae flowering plants such as pyrethrums, sunflowers and cobbler's pegs among others.
"These trees are very beneficial to human health because they reduce risks of malaria by repelling mosquitoes. Some drugs such coartem that cure malaria are processed from such plant and that is why we have partnered with the ministry of health so that we scale up the planting of artemisia annua seeds across the country,” he said.
He said that the plant takes six months to grow saying that it’s easy to plant it nationwide.
"One tree of between one meter and five meters high can provide one million seeds. This will help to have a household with at least one tree as our target. When you prepare a seed in a nursery, you can plant it before it grows up to 5 centimeters,” he said.
He explained that the company has established a factory that extracts different substances from various plants adding that research is ongoing on how it will extract the type of plant into anti-malaria drugs among other essential oil products projects.
"As more trees are grown to repel mosquitoes, the more we will get raw materials for extracting some drugs including those fighting against malaria,” he added.
The factory also extracts lemon verbena for lemony flavored drinks, confectionery, fruit puddings and homemade ice cream. It is also commonly used in perfumes and cosmetics for an additional citrus scent.
The company also does Tetradenia Riparia extract for the treatment of bacterial infections, distillation of geranium plants for the production of organic geranium oil, extracting patchouli oil is known mostly for its use for medicinal purposes and in aromatherapy, eucalyptus oil for cleansing the body of toxins and harmful microbes, treating sinusitis and as odor remover as well as lemongrass oil for aromatherapy.
Health ministry welcomes the tree species
According to the minister of health, Dr Diane Gashumba, who participated in the in the activities, the move will help to cope with rising of malaria cases.
"Recent heavy rains caused huge multiplication of mosquito eggs because of stagnant waters and growing of bushes. We are expecting high level of malaria cases rising in the coming months.
"That is why we have to partner in order to invest in prevention measures. We are trying to plant the mosquito repellant trees to help fight off mosquitos. We will carry out research on how to extract anti-malaria medicine from those plants,” she said.
She reminded the population to remove bushes around homes, and firmly stick to using mosquito nets, closing doors and windows early enough and listening to advice from community health workers so as to curb malaria cases.
"Currently anti-malaria drugs are free of charge for people in the first and second Ubudehe categories to ensure that they afford health treatment cost. For other people with Mutuelle de Sante, they only pay 10 per cent of the drugs cost,” she said.
Dr Gashumba added that besides planting mosquito repellent trees, the ministry will soon spray insecticide against malaria vectors.
Data analysis of malaria trends by the ministry indicated that between 2008 and 2009, malaria incidence dropped to as low as 36 per 1,000, but it started going up again – surging to 112 per 1000 people in 2013/14 and to 418 per 1000 in 2016/17.
Recorded at a baseline of 82 per 1000 in 2011/12, the incidence of malaria had quadrupled by 2016/17.
Despite the malaria upsurge, however, the ministry says there was a substantial decline in fatality rates, from 3.5 per cent in 2011/12 to 1.5 per cent in 2016/17.