WHO approves first malaria treatment specifically for newborns and infants

WHO gave prequalification approval Friday to artemether-lumefantrine, the first antimalarial formulation designed specifically for newborns and infants. Previously, infants were treated with formulations intended for older children, carrying greater risk of dosage errors, side effects and toxicity. This new treatment closes a critical gap for the 30 million babies born annually in malaria-endemic areas of Africa, where 95% of global malaria cases and deaths occur. Children under five account for three-quarters of those deaths. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that ending malaria "is no longer a dream — it is a real possibility, but only with sustained political and financial commitment." The prequalification enables public sector procurement of the treatment worldwide. With Nigeria bearing a significant portion of Africa's malaria burden, how might this new treatment affect healthcare planning in your community?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/24/who-approves-first-malaria-treatment-for-infants/