Washington: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the approval of the first preventive drug specifically designed for infants to combat malaria, in a step aimed at expanding protection options for this age group, which is most vulnerable to the disease. The announcement coincides with World Malaria Day.
The organization explained that the new drug is an adapted version of the therapeutic combination "artemether-lumefantrine," specially designed for newborns and infants weighing up to five kilograms, in a manner suited to the characteristics of their immune systems in the early stages of development, starting from the age of two months.
It confirmed that the drug features a formulation suitable for young children, enhancing their ability to resist the parasites that cause malaria, particularly in regions most affected by the disease.
The WHO noted that this medication will be used alongside currently available vaccines, contributing to a tangible reduction in infant mortality rates, given that infants are the group most vulnerable to infection and serious complications.
The organization pointed out that the approval of this treatment is expected to fill a gap in healthcare for around 30 million infants born annually in endemic regions, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, where its distribution is expected to begin within national immunization programs in the coming months.
It emphasized that this step strengthens international efforts aimed at reducing the spread of malaria by 2030, noting that the disease continues to pose a major health threat, especially to children under five years of age, due to their weaker immunity and susceptibility to severe complications such as acute anemia and cerebral malaria.
