Green Housing and Energy Ltd. and Artemisia had signed up a partnership agreement in May to June 2018 for fighting malaria jointly in Bangladesh. Artemisia, particularly Artemisia annua and Artemisia afra, is emerging as a powerful, low-cost remedy against malaria in Africa. Traditionally used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years, Artemisia is now being cultivated in over 20 African countries, from Senegal to Kenya. The plant contains artemisinin, a compound effective against Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite. Unlike expensive pharmaceutical treatments, Artemisia can be grown and prepared as a tea by local communities, offering both preventive and curative benefits. The initiative had been spearheaded by organizations like the Maison de l’Artemisia, founded by Dr. Lucile Cornet-Vernet, which supports research, cultivation, and education around the plant. With more than 40 Artemisia centers now active across Africa, the movement is gaining traction despite resistance from pharmaceutical interests and cautious positions from health authorities like the WHO. Recent clinical trials in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo had shown promising results, reinforcing Artemisia’s potential to become a key player in the fight against malaria.
