Context:

The approval of a new malaria treatment for infants by Swiss medical authorities offers new hope for healthcare workers in Uganda, where malaria is a leading cause of infant mortality. Alice Nekesa's tragic miscarriage due to undiagnosed malaria highlights the urgent need for effective treatments for newborns and infants who are particularly vulnerable. The newly approved drug, Coartem Baby, is a lower dose version of an existing antimalarial and is designed for infants weighing between 2 and 5 kilograms. This development is crucial as over 75% of malaria deaths in Africa are among children, and Uganda, with its significant malaria burden, is eagerly awaiting the drug's rollout. Health workers are being trained to recognize malaria in newborns, ensuring timely treatment during high-risk periods like the rainy season, which sees a spike in malaria cases.

Dive Deeper:

• The new malaria drug for infants has been approved by Swiss medical regulators, filling a critical treatment gap for newborns and infants who previously could not receive standard malaria medication due to their frailty.

• Alice Nekesa's miscarriage due to undiagnosed malaria underscores the widespread issue of malaria-related complications in pregnant women and infants in Uganda, a country heavily burdened by the disease.

• Coartem Baby, the newly approved antimalarial, is a sweet-tasting tablet that dissolves into syrup, making it suitable for infants and addressing the dosage challenges previously faced when treating very young children.

• Africa accounts for 95% of global malaria deaths, with children under 5 years being the most affected; Uganda, Nigeria, and Congo are among the countries with the highest malaria burden.

• The rollout of Coartem Baby in Uganda and other African nations is expected to significantly reduce infant mortality rates from malaria, especially during the malaria season when cases surge.

• Health workers in Uganda are being trained to recognize and treat malaria in newborns, as cases can often go unnoticed or be mistaken for other conditions like sepsis.

• Despite funding challenges, the Ugandan government plans to make Coartem Baby available free of charge, focusing on the most vulnerable groups, including young children who are at high risk of severe malaria outcomes.