From Sola Ojo, Abuja
In a major public health intervention aimed at reducing under-five mortality, the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium, has begun the administration of Azithromycin to 2.8 million children across the state.
Speaking at the launch of the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin (SARMAAN II) project in Kaduna, West Africa, Director of Malaria Consortium, Dr. Maxwell Kolawole, said the initiative was designed to tackle common childhood illnesses and build a resilient health system.
Dr. Kolawole revealed that over 16,000 personnel have been trained and deployed for the project, which is being funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
He described the initiative as a significant step not only in administering lifesaving drugs but also in collecting vital data on antimicrobial resistance and health outcomes.
“This initiative is more than just a distribution of medicine. It is a bold and strategic intervention that reinforces our commitment to reducing deaths among children under five, strengthening healthcare delivery, and improving public health in the long term”.
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, emphasised the importance of the campaign, which targets children aged one to 59 months across all 23 local government areas.
“Diseases like pneumonia, sepsis, and diarrhoea continue to claim the lives of thousands of children annually.
“This programme is a part of our pledge to end these preventable deaths and safeguard our future”, she added.
She stressed that the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) would lead the research component of the project in partnership with the Federal and State Ministries of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and other national and international stakeholders.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Umma Kaltum-Ahmed, noted that SARMAAN II represented a critical step toward achieving lower child mortality rates, with the mass drug administration scheduled every six months.
“This is a declaration that Kaduna State places a high priority on the survival and well-being of our children.
“It also underscored our commitment to data-driven strategies for long-term public health improvements”, the commissioner said.
Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government, Yakubu Jarimi, expressed appreciation to the state government and partners for choosing the area to host the launch.
He pledged the local government’s full support to integrate the programme into its primary healthcare services.
SARMAAN II signified a coordinated effort to combat preventable child deaths while ensuring the responsible use of antibiotics to curb resistance.
A traditional father administering the drug to one of the children