By Hussaini Ibrahim Sulaiman
The Kano State Government will tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, 2025, commence a statewide integrated campaign to combat malaria among children under five years old through Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) and the mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs).
The four-day campaign, which targets all 44 local government areas of the state, aims to reduce the burden of malaria during the high transmission season, which spans July to October.
Speaking during a media briefing on Friday, the State SMC Coordinator, Babangida Musa Gwarzo, said the campaign has proven to be an effective intervention in previous years.
“We are fully prepared to kick off this year’s campaign across all LGAs. Over 14 million doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) will be administered to children under five to protect them from malaria during the rainy season,” he said.
Gwarzo explained that the antimalarial drug is administered monthly for four months and has significantly improved child health outcomes in the state. “Last year, we reached over 3.5 million children, and we recorded a 65 percent reduction in malaria cases among under-five children during the rainy season,” he said.
As part of the integrated approach, the campaign will also include the mass distribution of over seven million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to households across the state. The net replacement initiative involves collecting old and worn-out mosquito nets from households and replacing them with new ones.
“This is a routine exercise conducted every three years, and it is aimed at strengthening malaria prevention through vector control. We urge households to cooperate by bringing out their old nets when our teams arrive,” Gwarzo added.
According to him, logistics for both the drug and net distribution have already been finalized, and training for frontline health workers and Community Drug Distributors (CDDs) has been completed.
“Drug administration will commence on Saturday, followed shortly by the net distribution. We call on caregivers to make sure their children receive the drugs and nets. If for any reason our drug distributors miss your house, please visit the nearest health facility to access the medicines,” Gwarzo appealed.
He also emphasized the importance of community participation and local advocacy in ensuring the campaign’s success, saying: “We’ve already engaged traditional and religious leaders to mobilize support. The media also has a vital role to play in spreading awareness.”
Gwarzo noted that the overall objective is not just to reduce malaria cases but to ease the economic burden on families who often struggle with the cost of treatment.
“Malaria is preventable, and this campaign is a cost-effective way of saving lives. With the cooperation of everyone, especially caregivers, we can significantly lower the incidence of malaria among our children,” he said.
The campaign is expected to reach millions of households, reinforcing Kano State’s commitment to reducing child mortality and improving public health through sustained, evidence-based interventions.
