By Akanji Olowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has said that not fewer than 2 million eligible Children have been targeted for the seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Campaign in the State this year.
This was made known during the 2023 SMC State level kick – off Meeting for the relevant Stakeholders in Bauchi.
Declaring the meeting opened, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe said that Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Intervention has reduced the burden of Malaria lnfection in Bauchi State.
He pointed out that the intervention has reduced Morbidity and Mortality Rate of children due to Malaria infection and commended the efforts of the Malaria Consortium for Implementing the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Project, which he described as timely and in line with the State Government’s priority aimed at improving Health Care Services especially for pregnant Mothers and Under Five (U5) Children.
The Commissioner reiterated the State Government’s commitment to provide quality Health Care Services for the benefit of the common man and called on Stakeholders as well as ad-hoc Personnel to be engaged, to observe the laid down rules and regulations during the exercise in order to realize the set objectives.
In His remarks, the Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIVIAIDs, Tuberculosis/Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, disclosed that the State Government has been supporting the implementation of SMC Project in the State since 2020 and has recorded tremendous achievements.
Dr. Sani Dambam further disclosed that all the relevant stakeholders at the state, LGA and community levels were SMC successful to ensure adequately engaged implenentation, adding that Bauchi State has been rated the best among the implementing States in the Country.
The State Project Manager, Malaria Consortium, Kabir Mohammed Algamawy, explained the coliaboration with Malaria Consortium, planned to reach out to more than 2 Million eligible Children across the State while about 25,000 adhoc personnel at the LGA, and community levels will be engaged during the exercise for the drugs administration.
The Project Manager also stated that SMC drugs would be distributed for 5 Cycles across the 323 wards of the 20 LGAs in the State from June to October 2023, adding that Procurement and Recruitment have reached advanced stages.
Some of the development Partners that participated in the meeting have promised to Support the State with Malaria Test Kits (RDT) and ACT Drugs to support the 2023 SMC Programme from June to October, 2023 as contained in a statement by Mustapha Yunusa, Information Officer, BACATMA.
