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Two mothers in Jigawa and Sokoto states have shared their experiences with the mass administration of azithromycin to children under a child-survival programme being implemented in northern Nigeria.
Saratu Sharif Musa, a mother of two from Dutse Danmasara Gari community in Jigawa State, said recurring fever among her children had been a source of concern, particularly at night.
“They were susceptible to fever constantly,” Musa said.
She said her children received azithromycin during a house-to-house distribution exercise under the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Nigeria (SARMAAN) Project.
According to her, a community health worker visited her home, explained the purpose of the medicine, administered the recommended dose and answered her questions.
“Since collecting the medicine, my children have stopped experiencing fever like they used to,” she said.
A similar experience was reported by Mrs Asmau Aliyu, a mother of five in Sokoto South Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Aliyu said she was initially indifferent when her husband told her about the azithromycin campaign, but became more comfortable after hearing information about it on the radio and receiving explanations from health workers in her community.
“My husband convinced me to have our children receive the medicine. By the time my children were set to receive it, I had zero doubts,” she said.
She said the health worker explained how the medicine would be administered, mixed it with water and gave it to her child in her presence.
Aliyu added that in the weeks following the administration, she noticed that her children appeared stronger and more active.
The experiences of the two mothers highlight the role of community engagement in gaining acceptance for public health interventions, particularly those involving the administration of medicines to children.
SARMAAN supports the administration of azithromycin to eligible children aged one to 59 months in high-mortality communities, with safety monitoring and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance.
The programme is being implemented through government health structures, trained health workers, community drug distributors and other existing health delivery platforms. It has reached more than 16 million children across 11 northern states, according to programme data.
The intervention is aimed at reducing childhood illnesses and deaths, particularly those associated with malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. The World Health Organisation has recommended mass administration of azithromycin for child survival in specific high-mortality settings, alongside monitoring for safety and antimicrobial resistance.
Nigeria continues to face a high burden of child mortality. The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey put the under-five mortality rate at 110 deaths per 1,000 live births, equivalent to about one in nine children not surviving to age five.
Health officials and programme managers have therefore identified community engagement as an important part of efforts to improve acceptance and ensure that eligible children are reached.
The programme involves health workers, community leaders, women leaders, religious leaders and other community representatives in explaining the intervention, addressing concerns and encouraging caregivers to make informed decisions.
SARMAAN’s current phase covers 11 northern states and combines mass administration with safety monitoring and antimicrobial resistance surveillance.
For Musa and Aliyu, the opportunity to ask questions and observe how the medicine was administered helped them become more comfortable with the intervention.
Their accounts also illustrate the importance of communication between health workers and caregivers as Nigeria continues efforts to reduce preventable deaths among children.
