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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Government, through the Ministry of Health and Human Services, has approved the sum of N294.53 million as counterpart funding for the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Campaign across the state.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche told newsmen in a statement that the approval was part of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commitment to strengthening malaria prevention and control interventions, particularly among children who remain highly vulnerable to malaria-related complications.
He explained that Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is a proven public health intervention designed to prevent malaria among children in areas where malaria transmission is seasonal and intense.
According to him “The intervention involves the administration of recommended antimalarial medicines to eligible children during the peak transmission period, irrespective of whether they exhibit symptoms of malaria at the time of administration.”
He said the approved counterpart funding is expected to complement support from development partners and other stakeholders participating in the 2026 SMC Campaign, while strengthening the state’s capacity to effectively coordinate and implement the intervention across communities.
The initiative, he said, will require close collaboration among the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Benue State Primary Healthcare Board, Local Government Health Authorities, development partners, health workers, community leaders, volunteers and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coverage and timely delivery of the intervention.
Ogwuche said the funding approval is also expected to support critical campaign activities, including mobilisation, training, logistics, drug distribution, community engagement, monitoring and supervision, as well as data collection and reporting.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to protecting the lives of children and reducing the burden of malaria across Benue State, emphasising the importance of sustained government investment and strategic partnerships in achieving better health outcomes for the people of the state.
The Commissioner further called on parents, caregivers, community leaders and other stakeholders to support the campaign by ensuring that eligible children receive the SMC medicines as recommended by trained health personnel.
“The 2026 SMC Campaign is expected to contribute significantly to the state’s broader malaria control efforts and complement other interventions, including the promotion of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of malaria, environmental sanitation and community-based health education.
“The N294.53 million counterpart funding approval therefore represents another significant step by the Benue State Government towards strengthening preventive healthcare and advancing its commitment to reducing childhood morbidity and mortality associated with malaria,” he added.
