……….targets over 2 million eligible children
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
All is set for the commencement of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, targeting 2 million under five eligible children in Bauchi State.
This was disclosed by the Bauchi State program manager of Malaria Consortium,
Kabir Muhammad Algamawy at a press parley held at the conference conference hall of BACATMA on Friday, saying the administration of the drugs will kick start on Saturday 15th July, 2023.
Algamawy said SMC intervention is an intermittent administration of monthly treatment course of antimalaria to children during high transmission of the scourge as the rainy season sets in.
He said the preventive medication is given at monthly intervals for four months to children aged 3 to 59 months.
The program manager said that the objective of the SMC campaign is to maintain adequate therapeutic antimalarial drugs concentration in the blood of the recipient through out the period of malarial risk.
He said that in order to have a successful campaign, all personnel involved in the implementation of the SMC at the State, LG, and community level were retrained for optimal performance during implementation.
Algamawy said that ,with about 25,000 ad-hoc personnel and monitors from the national office of the Malaria Consortium, this year’s SMC campaign is targeting over Two Million eligible children across the 20 LGAs of Bauchi State.
He then commended Bauchi State Government for the tremendous support the consortium is getting in carrying out its activities in the state.
He also thanked the management of BACATMA under the leadership of Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam for their support and enthusiasm for this year’s SMC implementation.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of BACATMA, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam said that this year’s SMC campaign is happening at a time when the State Government is also distributing Insecticide Treated Nets for household use against Malaria.
Dr. Dambam who disclosed that Bauchi State was adjudged the best performing State in SMC implementation in 2022, assured
Malaria Consortium that 2023 SMC campaign will supersede that of last year.
He attributed the successes recorded to the commitment and support of Governor Bala Mohammed in his quest to bequeath a healthy and productive citizens that does not have to spend out of pocket expense for healthcare services.
Picture Credit: Malaria Consortium