By Huldah Shado
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is set to benefit from the 2025 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), campaign, which targets approximately 983,497 children aged 3 to 59 months.
This was revealed on Tuesday by Dr. Olutomi Sodipo, the State Project Manager for the Philanthropic Funding SMC Project, during the official flag-off of the campaign in Abuja.
The initiative aims to reduce the burden of malaria among young children in the FCT during peak transmission periods.
Dr. Sodipo stated that the programme, which began in the FCT in 2022, is implemented with technical and financial support from the Malaria Consortium.
It involves the monthly administration of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine (SPAQ), to eligible children during the malaria season.
According to her, the campaign has so far been implemented across all six Area Councils, covering 62 wards and 274 health facilities.
This year, efforts will be intensified through collaboration with faith-based organisations, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health and Human Services, emphasized the significance of the SMC campaign, stressing that malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in Nigeria.
She noted that Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases and 30% of global malaria deaths, with children under five years old being the most vulnerable.
The 2025 campaign will adopt a door-to-door delivery strategy, deploying trained Community Drug Distributors (CDDs) to administer the medication directly to eligible children.
In urban areas like the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the programme will also utilize faith-based organisations as distribution hubs for children living in gated estates and underserved locations.
