By Njoku Chijioke
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is aiming to reach 939,729 children under five with Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), in 2025, a preventive intervention designed to protect vulnerable children during peak malaria season.
Olutomi Sodipo, State Project Manager of the Philanthropic Funding SMC (PF SMC), said the program employs a door-to-door approach where trained community drug distributors administer a monthly three-day course of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine (SPAQ), to children aged 3-59 months.
Since its introduction in 2022, the program has recorded steady progress in the FCT.
As of July 2025, two cycles of the treatment have been completed, with administrative coverage rates of 98.4% and 99.6%. The third cycle is scheduled for August 8-11.
However, challenges remain, including poor adherence to national guidelines, inadequate house-marking, and incomplete data capture.
To improve delivery, faith-based organizations are being engaged as additional distribution hubs.
Authorities are urging caregivers to cooperate with health workers and ensure children complete the full SPAQ regimen.
They also stress the importance of combining SMC with other measures like insecticide-treated nets to reduce malaria incidence.
With sustained government backing and community participation, the FCT hopes to make significant strides toward malaria elimination.
