The Zamfara State Government has commenced its 2025 mass distribution campaign for Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) drugs, targeting 1.2 million eligible children across the state.
The official flag-off ceremony took place on Thursday in Tsafe town, Tsafe Local Government Area.
This critical health initiative is being executed in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other development partners.
According to the WHO, malaria is a life-threatening but preventable and curable disease transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The use of preventive medicines and prompt treatment can significantly reduce the risk of severe illness and death.
SMC campaign adopts a door-to-door approach to deliver antimalarial medication to children aged between three months and 59 months, particularly during the peak malaria transmission season.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing the malaria burden in Zamfara and improving child health outcomes across the state.
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10,000 Ad Hoc Workers Mobilised
Speaking at the event, Regional Director of the Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement, Mr Dinola James, revealed that over 10,000 ad hoc personnel had been mobilised to distribute the drugs across the 147 political wards in the state’s 14 local government areas.
“We are committed to ensuring that every eligible child receives malaria chemoprevention,” he stated.
Warning Against Diversion of Drugs
Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nafisa Maradun, represented by the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Hussaini Anka, warned that the government would not tolerate the diversion of chemoprevention drugs for commercial purposes.
“Anyone caught engaging in such acts will face the full wrath of the law,” he warned.
National and Local Commitment to Malaria Elimination
Dr Nnena Ogbulafor, National Coordinator of the NMEP, represented by Mr Mohammed Mohammed, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to eradicating malaria from Zamfara and the country at large.
Representatives of partner organisations, including the IRC and WHO, also pledged continued technical and logistical support to enhance healthcare delivery and eliminate malaria in the region.
Traditional and Local Government Support
The Chairman of the Tsafe Local Government Council, Garba Shehu, assured stakeholders that his administration would ensure no eligible child is left out.
“Malaria remains a major health concern in our communities, and we are fully committed to supporting its elimination,” he said.
In his remarks, the Emir of Tsafe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammad Bawa (Yandoton Tsafe), commended the current administration for prioritising the health sector.
He pledged the emirate’s full support, including the mobilisation of traditional leaders, to ensure the successful implementation of the SMC programme.