Kano to resume malaria prevention exercise

The Kano State Government will resume the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme on Wednesday, August 12, following a comprehensive review of its processes, documentation and personnel arrangements.

Dr Usman Bashir, Chairman of the committee set up to review the programme and Director-General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), disclosed this to newsmen in Kano.

The programme was put on hold last week following the constitution of an investigative committee by the state Commissioner for Health on Wednesday, August 5, to investigate the preparation, processes, distribution and implementation of the programme across the state.

Bashir said the committee engaged Malaria Elimination Programme officers from all 44 local government areas to review and reconcile their respective programme data.

He said the review was aimed at strengthening the management, monitoring and coordination of the programme.

The SACA Director-General added that three additional zonal Monitoring and Evaluation personnel from the State Primary Health Care Management Board had also been deployed to strengthen verification, coordination and monitoring across the state.

He explained that following the ongoing verification and other necessary preparations, this year’s SMC programme was scheduled to commence statewide on Wednesday, August 12.

Bashir also said corrective, administrative and, where necessary, disciplinary measures would be taken against anyone found culpable.

The committee reassured parents, communities, development partners and other stakeholders of its commitment to transparency, accountability and due process in the implementation of the SMC programme.