From Abubakar Abdullahi, in Lafia
The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium, has launched the fifth round of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign.
The initiative aims to protect children aged 3-59 months from malaria, a major public health challenge in the state.
Addressing journalists, the State Commissioner for Health, Gwamna Gaza said the campaign targets population of 1,037,785 children under five, comprising 196,808 infants (3-11 months) and 840,977 children (12-59 months).
He said the campaign will run for five months, from June to October, with monthly drug distribution and 11,247 staff that includes Community Drug Distributors, Town Announcers, Supervisors, and Health Facility Workers, who have been trained to ensure smooth delivery of the exercise.
“The SMC drugs, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine, will be distributed free of charge, courtesy of the state government and the Malaria Consortium”
The Commissioner for Health reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to health and people-oriented development initiatives, highlighting the leadership’s dedication to reducing malaria burden in the state.
He also expressed government appreciation to the Malaria Consortium’s support over the past four years and looks forward to continued collaboration.
The Commissioner urged journalists to champion the initiative and help eliminate malaria in the state.
He explained that “the success of the campaign requires collective effort, and the government is counting on the support of traditional and religious leaders, parents, and caregivers”
He said the SMC program has contributed significantly to reducing malaria prevalence in Nasarawa State to 15% (MIS 2021).
He noted that the government aims to build on this progress and make this year’s campaign a success.
The launch of the SMC campaign marks a significant step towards protecting the health and well-being of children in Nasarawa State.
With the support of partners and stakeholders, the state government is poised to make a lasting impact on malaria prevention and control.
