Adamawa govt. launches SMC Campaign to Combat Malaria among 1.2m children

By Yagana Ali Yola 

The Adamawa State government has launched a Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign to combat malaria among children under five years old. 

The campaign, which targets 1.2 million children across 21 Local Government Areas, involves administering safe and effective antimalarial drugs to children aged 3-59 months every month during the peak transmission period.

Commodities worth over N4.8 billion have been procured and deployed to Adamawa State for the campaign.

To ensure everyone benefits from distribution, Over 6,000 trained community distributors and health workers will deliver the drugs door-to-door, ensuring access even in hard-to-reach communities.

 The campaign includes robust pharmacovigilance systems, real-time data reporting, and supervisory structures to ensure adherence to protocols.

Adamawa State so far has distributed over 3 million Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) during the last campaign.

Meanwhile The state has established Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) points at primary health care centers to promote accurate diagnosis.

Electricity: Gov. Oyebanji partners REA to light up Ekiti communities 

The campaign is supported by international and local partners, including the Malaria Consortium, WHO, UNICEF, and the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).

 The campaign aims to reduce malaria-related illnesses and deaths, minimize hospital admissions, and improve school attendance and overall child well-being.

By providing safe and effective antimalarial drugs, the campaign aims to improve child health and well-being.

The state government has urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community gatekeepers to mobilize their communities and encourage parents and caregivers to ensure eligible children receive all four doses of the SMC medicines.