Kano suspends malaria intervention programme, probes implementation

Kano State has suspended all activities related to its Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) program and established a high-level committee to investigate its implementation. The program's manager has also been suspended with immediate effect.

The decision follows concerns regarding the program's operations, documentation, and personnel records. The Kano State Ministry of Health issued a statement explaining that the suspension is intended to facilitate a thorough review of all related implementation activities. Responsibilities for the program have been temporarily transferred to the most senior officer pending the investigation's outcome.

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is a critical public health intervention implemented in regions with high seasonal malaria transmission, particularly in northern Nigeria. It involves administering antimalarial medicines to eligible children during the rainy season to reduce illness and deaths.

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The suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into the programme’s operations, documentation, personnel records and all related implementation activities.

The investigative committee, chaired by the Director-General of the Kano State AIDS Control Agency, Dr. Usman Bashir, includes heads of key health institutions. These include the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, the Hospitals Management Board, and the Kano Centre for Disease Control.

Furthermore, the ministry has directed the program's Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners, and other relevant stakeholders to report to its headquarters. They are required to provide approved work plans, distribution records, candidate lists, and other pertinent documents for verification. The state government emphasized that this review aims to enhance transparency and improve service delivery, rather than disrupt ongoing malaria control efforts, reaffirming its commitment to accountability and efficient resource utilization in all health programs.

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The Kano State Government remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and the efficient utilisation of public resources in all health programmes. The ongoing review is aimed at strengthening programme delivery and ensuring that health interventions are effective and reach the intended beneficiaries.