WHO is convening a Guideline Development Group (GDG) to develop updated guidelines on the use of mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin for children under 5 years of age to promote child survival. These updates reflect WHO’s commitment to addressing persistent child mortality in high‑burden settings, while responding to new evidence on effectiveness, safety, feasibility, and antimicrobial resistance associated with population‑level antibiotic use.
GDG members will contribute to the review of systematic reviews, evidence summaries, modelling outputs, and technical updates, and will propose updated WHO recommendations. They will also participate in the GDG meeting, which will be held in person at WHO HQ, Geneva, from 30 June to 2 July 2026.
The general objective of this meeting is to develop updated WHO guidelines that will serve as a normative framework for the appropriate use of azithromycin MDA as a public health intervention to promote child survival. Specific objectives include:
- to evaluate the effectiveness of azithromycin MDA in reducing all‑cause and cause‑specific mortality among children under five years of age, including assessment of age‑specific effects and contextual factors such as baseline mortality, malaria endemicity, and health system capacity; and
- to assess the potential harms and risks associated with azithromycin MDA, including safety outcomes and the short‑ and long‑term implications for antimicrobial resistance, in order to inform evidence‑based, balanced recommendations on when and where this intervention may be considered.
In accordance with WHO guidelines for developing recommendations, the GDG is composed of members from all WHO regions, serving in their individual capacities rather than as representatives of affiliated organizations. GDG members were selected by WHO technical staff based on their technical expertise, their role as end‑users (such as programme managers and health‑care providers), and their experience working in low‑ and middle‑income country settings, including countries implementing or considering azithromycin MDA. Members do not receive financial compensation for their contributions to this process.
Call for public comments
To ensure transparency and inclusivity, WHO invites members of the public and interested organizations to review the biographies of the GDG members and provide feedback. Comments can be submitted via email to cartillierl@who.int by 20 May 2026 12.00am Geneva time .
This feedback supports WHO in developing high‑quality, credible guidelines that reflect diverse perspectives and respond to the needs of countries and communities affected by the recommendations.