WHO clears first malaria treatment for newborns
Adds new diagnostic tests to tackle detection gaps IV Report KARACHI: Ahead of World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the first malaria treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants, and approved three new diagnostic tests to address emerging detection challenges. The newly approved formulation of artemether-lumefantrine is designed for babies weighing between two and five kilograms — a group long treated with medicines intended for older children, increasing the risk of dosing errors and side effects. WHO prequalification confirms the drug meets global standards of quality, safety and efficacy, enabling wider public-sector procurement and improving access for vulnerable infants. The move is expected to help close a longstanding treatment gap affecting millions of babies born annually in malaria-endemic regions, particularly in Africa, WHO said in a statement. ...