Malaria drug for infants: Global child health has received a shot in the arm, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has granted prequalification approval to the first-ever Malaria treatment, specifically designed for infants and newborns. 

The drug, named artemether-lumefantrine, is the first antimalarial formulation tailored exclusively for the youngest and most susceptible patients affected by the mosquito-borne disease. Till now, infants and babies were treated by means of medicines intended for older children, raising the risks of incorrect dosing, adverse side effects and potential toxicity. 

30 million babies born every year in Malaria endemic areas

The WHO said that the prequalification status is a signal that the medicine meets the stringent international standards of safety, quality and efficacy. The move is likely to enable wider public sector procurement and ensure safer treatment of millions of infants in malaria-prone localities.

According to statistics released by the agency, close to 30 million babies are born each year in Malaria-endemic areas, particularly across Africa, where the ailment still has a stronghold. 

Malaria drug for infants: 610,000 deaths reported due to Malaria in 2024

Malaria still stands as one of the world’s most infectious diseases. In 2024, 282 million cases of people suffering from the ailment were reported globally, leading to 610,000 deaths across 80 countries. The statistics further reveal that Africa accounts for nearly 95% of both infections and fatalities, and children under the age of five make up the majority of deaths

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus termed the approval a turning point in the fight against the disease. He underscored that for centuries, the ailment has left a trail of devastation among families and communities, but advances in vacancies, diagnostics, mosquito control tools and medicines are beginning to shift the trajectory. 

Meanwhile, the agency highlighted that nearly 70% of the countries lack robust regulatory systems to effectively oversee medicines and medical products, underlining the importance of its prequalification programme in maintaining global standards.

Also read: Indians under attack: 2 men shot dead in Italy’s Covo amid Vaisakhi festivities; suspect at large