The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has held a quarterly media dissemination meeting in Kano to showcase progress recorded under the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) project.
The meeting which took place on Tuesday at OCIL, Gandun Albasa, brought together state health officials, civil society organizations and media representatives to review achievements, challenges and future interventions across malaria, immunization and nutrition programmes.
Speaking at the meeting, the Kano State Programme Officer, Huzaifah Ibrahim Ahmed, said the engagement was aimed at sharing success stories from health facilities benefiting from the C19RM intervention.
He explained that the project has supported community structures to address long-standing infrastructure gaps in selected health centres.
According to him, facilities such as Wapa Health Centre where electricity had been disconnected for years have now regained power supply through the effort of Community-Led Monitoring Teams (CLMTs).
He added that other facilities lacking functional water supply were reconnected after community stakeholders mobilised local philanthropists to support repairs.
“The next phase is to build on these achievements and encourage other health facilities to replicate the sense of community ownership demonstrated in the intervention areas.
“We want communities to see these progress stories as examples and take responsibility for strengthening the facilities around them,” he said.
The Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Officer of the State Malaria Elimination Programme, Halima Adamu, also highlighted emerging trends in malaria transmission.
She said recent research from academia showed increasing chemical resistance to insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in several local government areas.
Despite widespread ownership of ITNs, she noted that malaria remained prevalent because infected mosquitoes now bite both at night and during the day.
Halima announced that the state has begun preparations for a new larval source management strategy aimed at identifying mosquito species responsible for high transmission rates.
The pilot phase will begin in four LGAs, Kano Municipal, Shanono, Kura and Dala, before expanding based on results.
“In the coming months, we expect to identify the exact species responsible and conduct targeted spraying. A follow-up survey will help us measure the impact,” she said.
Dr. Nura Haledu, State Chair of ACOMIN Kano, explained that the C19RM project also ensures accountability in Global Fund–supported facilities providing services for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
“15 community-based organizations are implementing the project across the state to ensure residents receive equitable and dignified healthcare.
“The C19 project is trying to ensure accountability in the Global Fund Malaria Commodities, which has to do with not only malaria but also AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
“What we are looking at is to ensure that every human being or every citizen of Kano State has equitable access and fair services around these three diseases,” he added.
