Adamawa collaborates with SFH to combat childhood malaria

The Adamawa State Ministry of Health has partnered with the Society for Family Health (SFH) in a campaign to prevent malaria in children.

SFH announced the launch of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign in a publication on X.

According to SFH, the campaign aims to administer “Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (SPAQ)” to children between three and 59 months, providing them with essential protection against malaria during the rainy season.

He noted that the first door-to-door administration cycle of the SPAQ will take place from June 29 to July 2.

Malaria elimination program

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Felix Tangwami, launched the campaign at Yelwa Primary Health Care Centre in Jimeta.

The Governor expressed his sincere gratitude to SFH for its efforts and innovative strategies in implementing the SMC campaign.

Mr. Fintiri reiterated his unwavering commitment to providing world-class healthcare services and acknowledged the invaluable guidance of the Federal Government’s National Malaria Elimination Programme in conducting SMC campaigns across the country.

Article page with promotion of financial support

He called on parents to protect their children from malaria by completing the required doses.

“The campaign will provide preventive malaria medicines for children, and caregivers should take this opportunity to ensure their children are fully protected by completing the doses,” she said.

Mr Fintiri highlighted the high risk of malaria among children aged 3-59 months, particularly during the rainy season, and stressed the crucial role of the SMC campaign in protecting their health and well-being.

The ceremony was attended by a variety of stakeholders including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), as well as traditional and religious leaders.

Fight against malaria

NMEP Head of Programmes, David Oyeleke, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, spoke about the country’s achievements in the fight against malaria.

He called on the state government and stakeholders to make Nigeria malaria-free and reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to malaria eradication through effective policy implementation and strategic direction.

The Director General of SFH, represented by John Ocholi, Project Director of the Global Fund to Fight Malaria, also praised the SMC campaign.

Mr Ocholi said: “Our goal is to significantly reduce the incidence of malaria among children by reaching all eligible children in Adamawa State with SPAQ.”

He said there is need to spread awareness through traditional and religious channels for a successful campaign, adding that SFH aims to administer 1,085,001 doses of SPAQ to eligible children in all 21 local governments and wards of Adamawa State in the next four days.

Efforts in Nigeria

In February, Mr Pate expressed concern about the burden of malaria in Nigeria, while calling for a review of the country’s strategies to combat the disease.

According to Mr. Pate, 70 years after implementing programmes to eliminate malaria, Nigeria still bears 30 percent of the global burden, with an estimated 68 million cases and 190,000 deaths from the disease in 2021.

He said the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with its partners, is considering initiatives “based on the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Health Sector Value Chain, to eradicate malaria from the country.”

Some of the initiatives include the development of domestic manufacturing of insecticide-treated nets, generic pharmaceuticals, the introduction of appropriate, safe and cost-effective vaccines and, potentially, mosquito repellent products.