By Usman Usman Garba
The Kano State Government has approved the restructuring of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Programme Team following the completion and review of an investigative committee’s report on the preparation and implementation of the 2026 SMC exercise in the state.
The restructuring is aimed at repositioning the SMC programme for improved performance while strengthening coordination, supervision, monitoring and accountability at all levels.
According to Nabilusi Abubakar Kofar Na’isa, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, The new team is headed by the Director of Public Health, Kano State Ministry of Health, Dr Ibrahim Aliyu Umar.
Other members include the Programme Manager, Babangida Musa; Deputy Programme Manager, Abdullahi Koki; Assistant Programme Manager, Dr Usman Umar Saurayi; State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Ibrahim Zubairu; and Deputy State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Bashir Maikano.
The team also includes six Zonal Monitoring and Evaluation Officers of the State Primary Health Care Management Board, as well as LGA M&E officers, Programme M&E officers and RBMs.
According to the resolutions, the restructuring is expected to improve coordination and supervision across the state, zonal, LGA and ward levels; strengthen data quality, reporting, monitoring and evaluation; promote accountability and transparency in the distribution of commodities and resources; address gaps identified during the first round; and ensure the timely and effective implementation of the remaining two rounds of the 2026 SMC exercise.
The restructured team is expected to commence work immediately.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to the successful implementation of the SMC programme as a critical intervention for the prevention and control of malaria among children under five years.
It also called on all stakeholders to work together towards achieving the objectives of the intervention.
