Malaria Consortium implements seasonal malaria chemoprevention across 13 Nigerian States

The Malaria Consortium, an international non-governmental organisation, has announced the commencement of its seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) programme across 13 states in Nigeria. The initiative aims to enhance equity, comprehensiveness, and cost-effectiveness in malaria control while strengthening the nation’s health systems.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Professor Mbacham Wilfred, Chairman of the Consortium’s Board of Trustees in the UK, highlighted the organisation’s achievement in protecting 20 million children from malaria in the targeted states. He emphasised the importance of adopting innovative technologies and strategies in the fight against the disease.

Professor Wilfred, who also serves as a public health biotechnologist at the University of Yaoundé, called for increased funding to ensure that newer tools can be utilised for malaria control across more states. “Because of the credibility the Malaria Consortium has built over time, funders and philanthropists are confident their investments will yield measurable results,” he noted.

Dr. Kolawole Maxwell, West and Central Africa Regional Director of the Malaria Consortium, underscored the organisation’s commitment to aligning its interventions with the National Malaria Strategy and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. He disclosed that all 22 eligible states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are now fully funded for SMC.

“The 13 states where Malaria Consortium is directly implementing the programme are supported by external funding. We take pride in ensuring these interventions are comprehensive and impactful,” Dr Maxwell stated.

He also urged the public to use malaria prevention tools responsibly and to report concerns to health workers rather than spreading misinformation.

The states benefiting from the SMC programme include Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Oyo, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, and the FCT.

The Malaria Consortium remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to eliminate malaria and improve public health outcomes.

Ifeoma Nwovu