WHO Approves First-Ever Malaria Drug for Infants

GENEVA — In a landmark decision, the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first dedicated anti-malaria drug specifically designed for babies and young children — a breakthrough that could save hundreds of thousands of lives every year.
Children under the age of five currently account for more than two-thirds of all global malaria-related deaths, making them the most vulnerable group in the fight against the disease. Until now, no drug had been specifically formulated and approved for this age group.
The newly approved medication has been hailed by global health experts as a “historic step forward” in the decades-long battle against one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Malaria kills over 600,000 people annually, the vast majority of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
The WHO has urged member nations and international health agencies to fast-track distribution of the drug to high-risk regions, particularly in Africa and South Asia.
“This approval brings us one step closer to a malaria-free world,” a WHO spokesperson stated.