Page 16 - GHES-3-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Sustainable therapeutic Artemisia

Figure 2. Use of a freight container for the production of either tablets or capsules of powdered dried leaf Artemisia annua or Artemisia afra. This layout
shows a small tablet production system. By replacing the tablet press with a 00 capsule filler and the blister packing machine with a plastic bag filling
machine, the production system can accommodate capsules instead of tablets. QC is inexpensively accomplished using TLC fingerprinting.
Abbreviations: QC: Quality control; HVAC: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; TLC: Thin-layer chromatography.

Figure 3. Workers from La Maison d’Artemisia in Bangui, Central African Republic, holding packets of Artemisia annua tea and the packaging details
designed to prevent counterfeiting of LMA Artemisia products (courtesy of Lucile Cornet-Vernet of LMA, Paris).

to social principles of economic solidarity. LMA also African Republic, was provided in an interview with Lucie
organizes science-based agronomic and medical training. Peters, who worked for the parent LMA in Paris that
LMA also educates vulnerable populations, such as those funded the start-up of the Bangui LMA.
in remote areas and malaria-endemic areas, about health “We have created a quality Artemisia sector in
issues and ways to obtain local treatment. LMA lobbies at Bangui (cultivation, processing, and marketing).
both the local and national levels to inform policymakers Everyone involved in this value chain is now
of its efforts and successes. These efforts of LMA involve all paid. Two farmers now produce Artemisia: One
stakeholders through an inclusive community approach, produces Artemisia annua and the other Artemisia
integrated with the scientific community. afra. Two others are in the process of setting up
LMAs operate according to a three-leg social business their fields and testing Artemisia cultivation.
model with a social mission “to fight against malaria and Visits and follow-ups are organized with them.
ensure access is provided to the most vulnerable.” Meshing The quality of the packaging has been improved:
with this is their environmental mission to promote local, Exact grammage, integration of all the stems,
sustainable, and responsible production of Artemisia presentation of the packets, and introduction
plant material for tea infusions and other related products of batch numbering for which the producers
including soaps and creams. Through these efforts, they have been trained, introduced in July 2023.
have successfully achieved the third leg of their business The Artemisia House France has contributed to the
model, fulfilling its economic mission to create jobs and construction of the processing workshop and the
encourage financial autonomy. Thus, the LMA model is purchase of protective equipment (gloves, masks,
self-sustaining and, in contrast to Western-subsidized aprons, etc.). At the same time, we’ve carried out a
ACT, does not depend on continued Western support. An number of public awareness campaigns, reaching
example of a recently established LMA in Bangui, Central around 7,000 people. Today, it’s common to hear

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 8 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4927