The World Health Organization’s first malaria drug formulated for newborns will help prevent overdosing but is unlikely to significantly reduce malaria deaths in Nigeria, a public health physician, Dr. Ifeoluwa Odedina, has said.
Odedina, of the University College Hospital Ibadan, made the assertion in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Ibadan.
It was recalled that the WHO recently announced the prequalification of the first malaria treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms, marking a significant global milestone.
“Coartem Baby,” approved by WHO, is the first antimalarial designed for infants weighing 2 to 5 kg.
Until now, doctors treated such babies by crushing and dividing tablets made for older children.
The public health physician emphasized that the drug is essentially a new formulation of an existing medication for newborns and smaller infants.
He stressed that “it is not a new drug per se.”
“The same medication was already being improvised for them before, so it will just help clinical caregivers avoid administering overdoses.
“So, I do not think there will be a marked reduction in the number of babies who die from malaria because of its introduction,” he said.
Odedina added that he has not observed harm from crushed tablets in his practice.
According to him, malaria in newborns and small infants below 5 kg is treated by dividing existing malaria tablets, crushing them into powder, mixing with water, and administering the mixture to the child.
“I have not seen any harm from using crushed tablets in my own experience,” he said.
Nigeria accounts for 27 per cent of global malaria deaths, according to WHO. About 30 million babies are born each year in malaria-endemic areas of Africa, with no previously approved treatment option for this group.
Novartis, which developed the drug with the Medicines for Malaria Venture, said distribution will be “largely not-for-profit.”
To ensure the drug reaches poor and rural populations, Odedina said the government must improve facility-level reporting and monitor distribution.
He added that there should be regular visits to Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to ensure allocated stock is delivered.
He also recommended labeling packs “not for sale” and providing a hotline to report illegal sales to prevent diversion to private markets.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the approval shows that “ending malaria is no longer a dream.”
However, Odedina noted that Nigeria is unlikely to meet the WHO target of a 90 per cent malaria reduction by 2030.
“It will be nearly impossible to achieve the 90 per cent reduction goal in four years within the Nigerian context.
“It is important to focus on preventive measures and educate people on the need to adopt them to ensure real progress is made in the fight against malaria,” he said.
