From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has described malaria as one of the leading public health challenges affecting children, particularly during the rainy season.
The Governor stated this during the flag-off ceremony of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Campaign held in Wamakko town, Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Aliyu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating malaria and strengthening healthcare delivery with the official launch of the campaign, which aims to protect children from malaria infections and related complications.
He explained that the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme provides preventive antimalarial medicines to children aged between 3 and 59 months, thereby reducing malaria infections, severe illnesses, hospital admissions, and deaths.
The Governor commended the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency (SOSMEA), National Malaria Elimination Programme, Malaria Consortium, and other development partners for sustaining the annual intervention and supporting efforts to protect children across the state.
He noted that the previous SMC campaign achieved about 95 per cent coverage and urged stakeholders to intensify mobilisation efforts to achieve 100 per cent coverage during the 2026 exercise.
Governor Aliyu announced that this year’s campaign would adopt an integrated approach by combining Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention with other child health interventions, including the distribution of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and zinc in selected pilot Local Government Areas.
He called on traditional and religious leaders to strengthen community mobilisation and urged parents and caregivers to cooperate with healthcare workers by ensuring that all eligible children receive the preventive medicines.
The Governor also directed Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state to provide the necessary support for the successful implementation of the campaign.
Reiterating that healthcare remains a key pillar of his administration’s 9-Point SMART Agenda, Governor Aliyu highlighted ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres, recruitment and training of healthcare workers, and other strategic investments aimed at improving healthcare delivery.
He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Federal Government’s healthcare reforms and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing programmes that improve the health and well-being of the people of Sokoto State.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Malaria Elimination Agency, Dr. Namadina Ibrahim Muhammad, said the 2026 SMC Campaign demonstrated the state government’s commitment to protecting children from malaria and improving public health outcomes.
Dr. Namadina disclosed that the campaign would run from July to October, with eligible children receiving four monthly rounds of preventive antimalarial medicines during the peak malaria transmission period.
He added that the integrated service delivery approach would combine malaria prevention with routine immunisation referrals and the distribution of ORS and zinc in selected Local Government Areas.
He urged parents and caregivers to allow healthcare workers access to their homes, ensure their children receive the medicines, and promptly visit health facilities whenever a child develops a fever.
According to him, Sokoto State has continued to make progress in malaria control through sustained interventions by the government and development partners.
He revealed that scientists from the Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency recently underwent specialised malaria diagnostic training in Lagos, where all participants successfully passed their certification examinations, with one officer emerging as the overall best candidate nationwide.
He said the achievement resulted in a recommendation for the establishment of a Malaria Referral Laboratory in Sokoto State.
The proposed laboratory, he explained, would serve as a centre of excellence for malaria diagnosis, surveillance, research, training, and capacity building, while also providing specialised services to neighbouring states.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Kabiru Dauda, reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting government health programmes through effective legislation.
He described malaria as a major public health challenge affecting people of all ages and commended Governor Aliyu for prioritising healthcare through the implementation of the 9-Point SMART Agenda.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar Wurno, said the state had recorded significant progress in healthcare delivery through strategic investments and effective policy implementation.
He highlighted efforts to strengthen maternal, newborn, and child healthcare, expand immunisation coverage, rehabilitate health facilities, improve healthcare workers’ capacity, and enhance service delivery at all levels.
The District Head of Wamakko, Alhaji Ahmed Barade, appreciated Governor Aliyu for choosing Wamakko as the venue for the campaign flag-off and assured the state government of continued support from traditional institutions in mobilising communities.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Palace of the District Head of Wamakko, attracted senior government officials, lawmakers, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders.
The 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of eligible children across the 23 Local Government Areas of Sokoto State with preventive medicines during the peak malaria transmission season.
The initiative reinforces the state government’s determination to reduce malaria-related illnesses and deaths, improve child survival, and build a healthier future for children across Sokoto State.