Adamawa state Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapha George Farauta has inaugurated Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign targeted at 1.2 children children across the 21 LGAs.
State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapha Farauta who inaugurated the exercise Friday in Yola lamented that
Malaria continues to be a major public health concern, especially for our children under five years of age.
Farauta said the campaign is not just a medical activity, it is a strong statement of our government’s commitment to protecting the lives and futures of our children and communities.
The Deputy Governor, represented by the Chief of Staff Government House, Dr Edgar Amos notes that the SMC campaign is a proven strategy for reducing the burden of malaria during the rainy season, when the risk of transmission is highest.
” It involves the administration of safe and effective antimalarial drugs to children aged 3–59 months every month during the peak transmission period.
This year’s campaign is aim to drastically reduce the number of malaria-related illnesses and deaths, minimize hospital admissions, and improve school attendance and overall child well-being”..
‘We believe that a healthy population is the bedrock of a prosperous society.
“That is why we have prioritized healthcare in our development agenda by increasing budgetary allocation to the health sector, expanding primary healthcare infrastructure, and strengthening the health workforce across the state.
“Our government will continue to invest in preventive and curative services, including the provision of free malaria drugs for vulnerable groups, equipping primary health centers, and enhancing disease surveillance systems”.
“We commend the continued support of our international and local partners Malaria Consortium, WHO, UNICEF, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), and all donor agencies for standing with us in the fight against malaria”.
She urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community gatekeepers to mobilize their communities and encourage parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children receive all four doses of the SMC medicines.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Health and Human Services Chief Felix B Tangwami stressed that Nigeria accounts for approximately 27% of global malaria deaths which the state, due to its ecological and seasonal characteristics, experiences high malaria transmission during the rainy season hence the strategic timing of SMC.
The campaign involves the monthly administration of Sulfadoxine- Pyrimethamine plus Amodiaquine (SPAQ) to children aged 3 to 59 months during the malaria transmission season, which spans four cycles.
He added that, evidence has shown that SMC can reduce malaria cases by up to 75% when properly implemented. It is safe, cost-effective, and has proven to significantly decrease hospitalizations and deaths related to malaria in children.
This year, commodities worth over N4.8 Billion has been procured and deployed to Adamawa State with a target to reach over 1.2 million eligible children across all 21LGAs
According to him, over 6000 trained community distributors and health workers have been deployed for door-to-door delivery, ensuring access even in hard-to-reach communities.
To monitor safety and coverage, we have put in place robust pharmacovigilance systems, real-time data reporting, and supervisory structures to ensure adherence to protocols.
Adamawa State has made commendable progress in reducing the malaria burden. Some of the milestones include:
Distribution of over 3 million Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) during the last campaign.
Establishment of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) points at primary health care centers to promote accurate diagnosis.
Routine availability of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) at no cost in public facilities.
Increased inter-sectoral collaboration to address environmental factors that promote mosquito breeding.
In addition, through the support of our partners, we are strengthening community education and behavioral change communication to encourage uptake of preventive services like SMC, use of LLINs, and early care-seeking behavior.
Chidimka Okolo from Catholic Relief Services states that the fight for malaria is not for one person, urging for all hands on deck to tackle the menace.
Programm manager Society for Family Health, Prof Mahmud Kumo appreciated the state government for emerging first in in the fight against malaria in Nigeria
Ben Alisa NMEP National Malaria Elimination Program who represented the National Coordinator said the vaccines would give children to grow stronger and health in the state
Hussaini Hammangabdo
Press Secretary
