The Kano State Government has halted all activities under the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme across the state and inaugurated a high-level committee to investigate how the intervention has been implemented.
As part of the action, the government also suspended the programme manager with immediate effect and directed that the most senior officer temporarily oversee its operations until the investigation is concluded.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar.
The Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme is a preventive health initiative targeted at states with high seasonal malaria transmission, particularly in northern Nigeria. Under the programme, eligible children receive antimalarial medication during the rainy season to reduce cases of severe illness and deaths linked to malaria.
According to the statement, the suspension followed the establishment of an investigative committee tasked with carrying out a detailed review of the programme’s planning, distribution and implementation in the state.
“The suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into the programme’s operations, documentation, personnel records and all related implementation activities,” the ministry stated.
The ministry said all field activities connected to the programme, including the distribution of medicines and community sensitisation efforts, would remain on hold while the investigation is ongoing.
The committee is headed by the Director-General of the Kano State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Usman Bashir. Other members include heads of major health institutions in the state, such as the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, the Hospitals Management Board and the Kano Centre for Disease Control.
The ministry also instructed the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other stakeholders to submit relevant records to its headquarters for verification.
“The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders are required to report to the ministry’s headquarters with all approved work plans, distribution records and candidate lists for verification and assessment,” the statement added.
The state government maintained that the review is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and service delivery rather than undermine malaria control efforts.
“The Kano State Government remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and the efficient utilisation of public resources in all health programmes. The ongoing review is aimed at strengthening programme delivery and ensuring that health interventions continue to benefit the people of Kano State effectively,” the statement said.
