Africans text message to check if drugs are real非洲人將可用簡訊查明是否是真藥

 ◎ 魏國金
For Africans wondering whether the malaria drugs they’ve bought are real, there may soon be a quick way of finding out： sending a text message.
對於想知道買到的是否是真的瘧疾藥的非洲人，或許不久就有快速查明的方式︰發送簡訊。
Across the continent, more than 30 percent of malaria medicines are estimated to be fake, and many look identical to the real thing.
整個非洲大陸，估計逾30％的瘧疾藥是冒牌貨，而許多看起來與真藥一模一樣。
A new project called mPedigree lets consumers send in a code via text message that lets them check if their drugs are genuine. It was recently adopted in Nigeria, with plans for wider use elsewhere in Africa.
稱為mPedigree的新計畫，讓消費者以簡訊傳進一個代碼，讓他們核對買的是否是真藥。此法最近在奈及利亞被採用，計畫更廣泛用於非洲其他地方。
Ghanaian entrepreneur Bright Simons developed the mPedigree system; its technology and security infrastructure is now being provided by Hewlett Packard. The system assigns a unique code to genuine malaria medicines, printed on the back of medicine blister packs under a sheet that is scratched off like a lottery ticket.
迦納企業家布萊特．席蒙斯研發出mPedigree系統；其技術與安全基礎設施目前由惠普公司提供。該系統分派獨特代碼給真的瘧疾藥物，並印在透明塑膠包裝藥盒背面的一個覆蓋層下，像樂透彩般將覆蓋層刮除。
Customers send a text message to a central hot line with the code and instantly get an "OK" response telling them if the drug is registered and thus real. If the drug isn’t registered and potentially fake, people receive a text message that says "No. Please recheck code." The system is free for consumers.
消費者將代碼簡訊傳送至一個中央熱線，如果該藥有註冊，因而是真藥，將立即獲得「OK」回應。如果藥物未註冊而可能是偽藥，人們將得到「不，請再查明密碼」的簡訊。該系統是消費者免付費。
Health officials say the innovative system could help Africa curb the tide of fake drugs and potentially save hundreds of thousands of lives. Rich countries have long employed expensive methods, like tracking systems or sophisticated equipment, to verify whether drugs are authentic.
衛生官員指出，這個創新系統能協助非洲遏止假藥歪風，並可能拯救數十萬條人命。長久以來富國使用昂貴的方法，比如追蹤系統或精密設備來確證藥品是否是真的。
新聞辭典
scratch︰抓、搔、刮。例句︰Scratch my back and I will scratch yours.（你挺我，我就挺你。）
curb︰抑制、控制、遏止。比如︰curb an impulse（抑制衝動）、curb one’s anger（按捺怒火）。
verify︰證實、核實。例句︰Subsequent events verified my suspicions.（接續發生的事件證實了我的懷疑。）