By Blessing Odega
From Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, comes a report that 935,425 children will benefit from the 2024 free seasonal malaria chemoprevention programme.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the programme will be carried out by Plateau State Malaria Elimination Programme (SME-P), in partnership with Malaria Consortium (MC).
Manager, Plateau Malaria Elimination Programme, Ndak Zuhumnan, disclosed this at the launch of the 2024 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention on Wednesday in Jos.
He said, the launch was part of the state government’s efforts to eradicate malaria by 2030, having received 4,775,073 doses of malaria prophylaxis.
He added that prophylaxis is the treatment given or action taken to prevent disease, noting that the prophylaxis would be administered to children under five years of age in Jos-Bukuru metropolis and in the 17 local government areas.
He announced that the prophylaxis administration would take place between June 27 and June 30.
He said 11,755, ad hoc staff were trained for the administration of the prophylaxis in 10,988 communities, including hard-to-reach settlements.
He, therefore, urged parents, guardians and caregivers to avail their children and wards for the prophylaxis.
West and Central Africa Programme Director of Malaria Consortium, Dr Maxwell Kolawole said, the seasonal malaria chemoprevention is one of the global malaria elimination strategies domesticated on the Plateau since 2021.
Kolawole, who was represented by Dr Mbwas Mashor, the state Programme Manager, Malaria Consortium, explained that the chemoprevention, with funding from the UK, is key in the prevention of malaria morbidity in children.
He added that “the prophylaxis helps in the maintenance of therapeutic blood levels of antimalarial through the peak transmission period of the disease (rainy season from June to October).
“Malaria Consortium supports the state government through capacity building of healthcare workforce for case management, prevention, micro planning and data management.”
Kolawale commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for prompt release of counterpart funding toward the elimination of the burden of malaria in the state. – NAN
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