Uganda has taken a major step in the fight against malaria by approving a new treatment designed for newborn babies and young infants. The medicine, called Coartem Baby, was recently cleared by Swiss regulators and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to make it available in countries with the highest malaria burden.
Malaria remains the deadliest disease in Africa. In 2023 alone, the continent accounted for 95% of the world’s 597,000 malaria deaths, most of them children under the age of five. In Uganda, a country of 45 million people, there were 12.6 million malaria cases and nearly 16,000 deaths last year.
Until now, doctors had to adjust adult malaria doses for babies, which often led to mistakes and overdose risks. Coartem Baby, however, is specially made for infants weighing 2 to 5 kilograms and comes in child-friendly flavors like orange and mango to make it easier for parents to give.
Local health officials say the drug will soon be available in public hospitals, and some private pharmacies have already started selling it. The Ugandan government plans to distribute it for free to those most at risk, especially children under five and pregnant women.
Health experts believe this new medicine could save thousands of lives every year if parents bring their children to clinics early when symptoms appear. However, funding remains a challenge after cuts in U.S. foreign aid. Support from international organizations like the Global Fund will be crucial to ensure widespread access.
The drug will not only benefit Uganda but also be introduced in other African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.
Medical workers and organizations like the Malaria Consortium have praised this move as a “game changer” in reducing infant deaths from malaria, especially during the rainy season when infections spike.
