At MMV we believe every African child should be able to access the medicines they need. Malaria continues to take the life of a child under 5 every minute of every day. By developing new antimalarial medicines, MMV is working to change this reality for children in Africa and the world over. Consistent with the Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed initiative, MMV has pledged its support to ending
preventable child deaths. The campaign calls on all countries to reduce under-5 mortality
to 20 or fewer under-five deaths per 1,000 live births, for every segment
of society, by 2035.
Commemorated on the 16 June each year, the Day of the African Child was first established in 1991 to draw attention to the lives of African children. The day was inspired by the children of Soweto, South Africa, who took to the streets in 1976 to protest against their inferior education – some of whom lost their lives in doing so.
Day of the African Child
Children are not just little adults. To ensure correct treatment, medicines must be tailored to their needs.
Day of the African Child
MMV seeks to develop a formulation specifically tailored to the needs of children for every medicine it co-develops.
Day of the African Child
In 2009, Novartis and MMV launched the first high quality, child-friendly, fixed-dose artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT). By March 2012, 120 million doses had been dispatched to 35 malaria-endemic countries.
Day of the African Child
MMV worked with Guilin Pharmaceutical to obtain WHO prequalification for injectable artesunate. This treatment for severe malaria was prequalified in October November 2010 and since then over 3.2 million vials, sufficient to treat 1 million sick children have been delivered to malaria-endemic countries.
World Health Organization List of Prequalified Medicinal Products
Day of the African Child
In the past, paediatric formulations of medicines would not have been developed or would only be developed after the adult medicine had been approved.
Day of the African Child
To expedite the development and delivery of child-friendly medicines, MMV plans to develop paediatric formulations that can also be used in adults.
Day of the African Child
Malaria has an adverse effect on educational attainment of school children.
Fernando SD et al. The impact of repeated malaria attacks on the school performance of children. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 69(6):582-8 (2003).
Day of the African Child
MMV is working with public and private partners to achieve a future without malaria for all children.
