The Chinese government on Monday donated over 244,000 doses of anti-malarial drugs to the Uganda in a bid to fight the deadly disease that kills over 320 people daily in the East African country.

Richard Nduhuura, State Minister for General Duties in the Health Ministry said that the donation worth over US$400,000 will address the malaria drug shortages the country has been experiencing due to unreliable funding from donor agencies.

"Today marks an important occasion in which Ugandans acquire yet another two arsenals in its armory in the fight against the number one killer disease in the country, malaria," he said while receiving the drugs from the Chinese ambassador to Uganda, Sun Heping, at the ministry headquarter here.

Over 144,000 doses of Arco and 100,000 doses of Duo-Cotexin were donated, making it the third time in the last three years China is donating anti-malarial drugs to Uganda.

Nduhuura said that the drugs may be included in the country's malaria treatment policy and on the essential medicine list of the Health Ministry due to their easy administration.

For Arco, its dose is swallowed once while Duo-Cotexin the tablets are swallowed once a day as prescribed by a doctor.

Sun who handed over the drugs said medical and health care are a priority in the Sino-Africa cooperation and the drugs were donated as part of the aid package in the framework of the China- Africa Cooperation Forum.

According to health experts the country loses more than US$600 million per year to malaria.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2010)