Gov Aliyu Flags Off 2026 Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign, Targets 100% Coverage
From Muhammad Gazali Garba
Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to combating malaria and strengthening healthcare delivery with the official flag-off of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Campaign in Wamakko Local Government Area.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Palace of the District Head of Wamakko, brought together senior government officials, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders committed to the fight against malaria.
Speaking at the event, Governor Ahmed Aliyu described malaria as one of the leading public health challenges affecting children, particularly during the rainy season.
He explained that the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme provides preventive antimalarial medicines to children aged 3 to 59 months, significantly reducing malaria infections, severe illness, hospital admissions and deaths.
The Governor commended the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, the Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency (SOSMEA), the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Malaria Consortium and other development partners for sustaining the annual intervention and strengthening efforts to protect the lives of children across the state.
He noted that the previous SMC campaign achieved approximately 95 per cent coverage and challenged all stakeholders to intensify efforts towards attaining 100 per cent coverage during the 2026 exercise.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu announced that this year’s campaign would adopt an integrated approach by combining Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention with other child health interventions, including the distribution of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and zinc in selected pilot Local Government Areas, to improve access to essential child healthcare services.
He called on traditional and religious leaders to intensify community mobilisation and urged parents and caregivers to cooperate fully with healthcare workers by ensuring that every eligible child receives the preventive medicines. The Governor also directed the Chairmen of all 23 Local Government Areas to provide the necessary support for the successful implementation of the campaign in their respective councils.
Reiterating that healthcare remains a major pillar of his administration’s Nine-Point SMART Agenda, Governor Ahmed Aliyu highlighted the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrading of General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres, the recruitment and training of healthcare personnel, and other strategic investments aimed at improving healthcare delivery across Sokoto State.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Federal Government’s healthcare reforms and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing programmes that improve the health and well-being of the people of Sokoto State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on malaria Elimination Agency,Dr. Namadina Ibrahim Muhammad,said the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign reflects the Sokoto State Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting children from malaria and improving public health outcomes across the state.
He commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his sustained support for the health sector, describing the administration’s investments in healthcare as a demonstration of its determination to improve the quality of life of the people.
Dr. Namadina disclosed that the campaign would run from July to October, during which eligible children aged 3 to 59 months would receive four monthly rounds of preventive antimalarial medicines during the peak malaria transmission season.
According to him, the campaign will also pilot an integrated service delivery approach in selected Local Government Areas by combining malaria prevention with routine immunisation referrals and the distribution of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and zinc, thereby expanding access to life-saving child health interventions.
He urged parents and caregivers to allow healthcare workers access to their homes, ensure their children receive the preventive medicines and promptly visit health facilities whenever a child develops a fever, stressing that not every fever is caused by malaria.
Dr. Namadina further disclosed that Sokoto State continues to record encouraging progress in malaria control through sustained interventions implemented by the state government and its development partners.
He revealed that scientists from the Sokoto State Malaria Elimination Agency recently underwent specialised malaria diagnostic training in Lagos, where all participants successfully passed their certification examinations, with one officer emerging as the overall best candidate nationwide.
He added that the outstanding performance led to the recommendation for the establishment of a Malaria Referral Laboratory in Sokoto State.
According to him, the proposed laboratory will serve as a centre of excellence for malaria diagnosis, surveillance, research, training and capacity building, while also providing specialised diagnostic services for neighbouring states and generating additional revenue for the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Kabiru Dauda, reaffirmed the commitment of the State House of Assembly to supporting government health programmes through the necessary legislative backing.
He described malaria as a major public health challenge affecting people of all ages and commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for prioritising the health sector through the implementation of the Nine-Point SMART Agenda.
He assured stakeholders that the House Committee on Health would continue to support policies and programmes aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the state.
Delivering his address, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar Wurno, said Sokoto State has continued to record significant progress in healthcare delivery through strategic investments and effective policy implementation.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen maternal, newborn and child healthcare, expand immunisation coverage, rehabilitate health facilities, build the capacity of healthcare workers and improve service delivery at the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare levels.
The Commissioner assured the Governor that the Ministry of Health, its agencies and development partners would remain committed to implementing evidence-based programmes and policies that will further improve health outcomes across Sokoto State.
In his remarks, the District Head of Wamakko, Alhaji Ahmed Barade, expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Aliyu for selecting Wamakko Local Government Area as the venue for the flag-off of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign.
He commended the Governor’s sustained investment in the health sector, describing the initiative as a clear demonstration of his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives of women and children.
The traditional ruler assured the state government and its development partners of the continued support of traditional institutions in mobilising communities, sensitising parents and caregivers and ensuring that every eligible child benefits from the campaign.
He urged residents to cooperate fully with healthcare workers by allowing them access to their homes and ensuring that all eligible children receive the preventive medicines.
The 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of eligible children across all 23 Local Government Areas of Sokoto State with preventive antimalarial medicines during the peak malaria transmission season.
The initiative reinforces the state’s determination to reduce malaria-related illnesses and deaths, strengthen child survival and build a healthier future for every child in Sokoto State.
