Plateau State Government has launched the 2025 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) program, a crucial initiative to protect children aged 3-59 months from malaria during the rainy season.
The program was flagged off by the Deputy Governor, Ngo Josephine Piyo in a ceremony that highlighted the state’s commitment to prioritizing health services for its citizens.
According to the Deputy Governor, Plateau State has made significant progress in reducing malaria cases among children since the inception of the SMC initiative in 2021, noting that “the state achieved the top position among 21 implementing states in 2024, a testament to the government’s dedication to combating malaria.”
The State Ministry of Health and the Malaria Consortium have played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the SMC initiative, she noted.
Ngo Piyo also appreciated the First Lady of Plateau State who has also lent her support to the program, accepting the role of the 2025 SMC ambassador as well as the wives of the 17 Local Government Chairmen who are also committed to serving as SMC advocates, further amplifying the program’s reach.
The Deputy Governor urged all stakeholders, community leaders, health workers, and parents to join hands in promoting the 2025 SMC program affirming that by working together, the state will be able to protect its children from the devastating effects of malaria and build a healthier future for generations to come.
The First Lady of Plateau State, Barr. Helen Mutfwang also reiterated that “The Time is Now” administration’s top priority is to safeguard the health and lives of every individual in the State through the delivery of life-saving interventions and Strengthening the health system towards effective disease prevention.”
Barr. (Mrs.) Mutfwang, the 2025 SMC Ambassador, called on the good people of Plateau State to take advantage of the SMC initiative to protect children from malaria by ensuring that all under 5 children have access to the SPAQ medications that will be distributed from house to house for 4 days in every month for the next 5 months.
She, however, noted that for the SMC campaign to be a success, the state government in collaboration with malaria consortium has deployed 800 health facilities as well as 11,000 ad hoc staff to conduct the exercise across the communities thereby appreciating the malaria consortium for supporting the SMC initiative in achieving malaria-free Plateau State.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong welcomed everyone to the epoch making event and appreciated the leader of the “Time is Now” administration, Barr. Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang for being supportive of the health sector through his dedication and passion for the health of the people of Plateau State.
The State Malaria Elimination Program Manager, Nurse Ndak Kizito in his remark, commented on the framework of the SMC program, stating that the operation will involve door-to-door campaigns.
He said they were targeting 963,358 children across 10,983 communities in the State including the hard-to-reach areas with the support of trained personnel that were engaged within the State in order to achieve 100% success in the year 2025.
Mr. Hosea Keln Bitrus, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health also appreciated the Governor for the approval of the memo for the event as well as releasing the funds.
Highlight of the event was the investiture of the wife of the Executive Governor, Barr. Helen Mutfwang by the Deputy Governor, Ngo Josephine Piyo as the SMC Ambassador as well as the decorations of the wives of the Local Government Chairmen as SMC’s Advocates.
Credit: By Lengmi Joshua Lumi
