Kano State Government has strengthened the oversight and coordination of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) program following a comprehensive review of its processes, documentation and personnel arrangements.
The development followed the constitution of an investigative committee by the state Commissioner for Health on Wednesday, 5 August 2026, to investigate the preparation, distribution and implementation of the program across the state.
The committee, chaired by the Director-General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Dr. Usman Bashir, comprises heads of relevant health agencies and other key officials within the health sector.
The Director of Administration, Kano State Ministry of Health, serves as secretary of the committee.
Following its deliberations, the committee engaged Malaria Elimination Program Officers (MEPOs) from all 44 local government areas to review and reconcile their respective program data.
The exercise also resulted in measures to strengthen the management, monitoring and coordination of the SMC program.
The government appointed Abdullahi Yusuf Koki as Acting Program Manager, Bashir Maikano as Acting State Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, and Surayya Aminu as Acting State Assistant M&E Officer.
Three additional zonal M&E personnel from the State Primary Health Care Management Board were also deployed to strengthen verification, coordination and monitoring across the state.
The government said the 2026 SMC exercise is scheduled to commence statewide on Wednesday, August 12, following the ongoing verification and necessary preparations.
However, the investigative committee will continue its work in line with its terms of reference and submit detailed findings and recommendations.
The recommendations, according to the government, may include corrective, administrative and, where necessary, disciplinary measures against individuals found culpable of any wrongdoing.
The State Government reassured parents, communities, development partners and other stakeholders of its commitment to implementing the SMC program with transparency, accountability, due process and effective coordination.
It said the measures were aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the intervention and ensuring that its intended malaria-prevention benefits reach eligible children across the state.
Credit: Sa’adatu Suleiman
