A neonatal specialist, Onah Chidiebere, has urged swift access and proper training following the World Health Organisation’s prequalification of the first malaria treatment for newborns and infants worldwide.

Mr Chidiebere, a paediatrician at Babies Matter Medical Centre, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

The expert said the breakthrough must be matched with deliberate policies to ensure availability, correct usage, and measurable reductions in neonatal mortality rates.

He warned that without a structured rollout in malaria-endemic countries like Nigeria, longstanding treatment gaps affecting neonates and infants under five kilograms might persist despite the scientific milestone achieved by global health authorities.

Mr Chidiebere said that malaria in early infancy was frequently underdiagnosed but could progress rapidly, especially in endemic regions, underscoring the need for early detection and appropriate, standardised therapeutic interventions for affected babies.

He said the WHO decision formally recognised infants under five kilograms as a high-risk group, adding that their immature immune systems and exclusion from trials had historically limited evidence-based treatment options.

The paediatrician called for the integration of the treatment into national malaria programmes, emphasising the need for health worker training, updated guidelines, and careful adaptation for neonatal and intensive care unit settings.

He cautioned that without clear protocols, especially for preterm or critically ill infants, and strong clinical oversight, the benefits of the new treatment could remain limited despite its potential to improve survival outcomes.

(NAN)