News
Malaria Consortium Seeks Stronger Media Partnership Ahead of 2026 SMC Campaign
The Plateau State Ministry of Health, National Malaria Elimination Programme and Malaria Consortium has engaged media practitioners and key stakeholders ahead of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign to boost public awareness and community participation in the fight against malaria.
The media parley, held at the Crispan Event Centre in Jos, brought together health professionals, development partners and journalists to strategise on the successful implementation of the campaign aimed at protecting children under five from malaria.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, described the media as a critical partner in malaria elimination, saying sustained public enlightenment remains key to the success of the intervention.
He said Plateau had made remarkable progress in malaria control, with prevalence dropping from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 2.8 per cent in 2025 due to increased government commitment, effective implementation of the SMC programme and the support of development partners.
“The prevalence rate has dropped from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 2.8 per cent in 2025, representing about an 87 per cent reduction. It shows that malaria elimination is possible, and with sustained support for the SMC programme, we can achieve zero malaria,” he said.
In his presentation, Project Manager of the IMPACT Project, Nrs. Ndak Andarawus, said the 2026 SMC campaign targets 1,007,652 eligible children across Plateau State.
He disclosed that over 11,500 health workers, supervisors, volunteer drug distributors and community leaders had been mobilised for the exercise, while trained volunteers would administer preventive malaria drugs through house-to-house visits supported by digital monitoring systems to ensure every eligible child is reached.
Andarawus said the programme had contributed significantly to the reduction of malaria prevalence in the state through strong government support, effective partnerships and active community participation.
Project Manager of Malaria Consortium, Dr. Mbwas Mashor, said the media engagement was organised to strengthen collaboration with journalists and stakeholders to improve public awareness and acceptance of the SMC campaign.
He explained that Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is a World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended intervention that provides safe and effective preventive malaria medicines for children aged three to 59 months during the peak malaria transmission season.
“We want the media to strengthen public awareness, promote accurate information and support community acceptance of the SMC campaign so that every eligible child is protected,” Mashor said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health described the media parley as timely and urged journalists to sustain accurate reporting on malaria prevention to improve community participation and campaign success.
Also speaking, SBCC Consultant, Mr. Kaskida Yilyok, said the media plays a vital role in shaping public perception, combating misinformation and encouraging caregivers to ensure eligible children receive the preventive medicines.
Programme Officer, Miss Kachollom Gyang, stressed that safeguarding remains a key component of the SMC programme, saying staff, partners and volunteers are regularly trained to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
She added that the programme operates a zero-tolerance policy against abuse and encouraged members of the public to report any safeguarding concerns for prompt investigation.
The Plateau State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Yilji Kumtap, commended the Ministry of Health and the State Malaria Elimination Programme for the progress recorded in malaria control and pledged the association’s continued support.
Similarly, Pharm. Godwin Nimyel, representing the Plateau State Chairman of the Pharmacy Society of Nigeria (PSN), reaffirmed the society’s support for the programme, stressing the need for quality-assured medicines and strict regulation to eliminate substandard drugs.
Also, Dr. Molsat Emmanuel Sydney, representing the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board, lauded the Ministry of Health, the State Malaria Elimination Programme and Malaria Consortium for their efforts in reducing malaria, assuring of the board’s continued support for the SMC campaign at the grassroots.
By Aderonke Ojo
Former Nigerian squash professionals in the diaspora have pledged stronger support for grassroots development of the sport, calling for sustained investment, wider competitions and greater international opportunities for young players.
The commitment was made at the closing ceremony of the seventh edition of the Squash in Diaspora Under-11, Under-13 and Under-17 Boys and Girls Junior Championship in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament held in Abuja for the first time after six editions in Lagos, attracted more than 100 young players from the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna States, among other parts of Northern Nigeria.
Haniel Hadison, Vice-President of the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) and tournament sponsor, described the initiative by former professionals in the diaspora as an important contribution to the development of squash in Nigeria.
“You can see that our stakeholders, the ex-professionals based abroad, are also making an effort to give back to the system.
“That is one very important aspect of continuing the developmental growth of squash in Nigeria,” he said.
He said almost 100 young players had been brought together through the tournament, adding that such initiatives would help keep children engaged in sports and provide a pathway for future national and international athletes.
“We have taken them off the streets, and that is the future of the nation through sports. The Federal Government cannot do this alone,” he said.
Hadison also commended the decision to move the tournament from Lagos to Abuja, saying it would help address the concentration of squash competitions in the southern part of the country.
Jonah Attah, Technical Director of the NSF and Vice-Chairman of the African Squash Federation, said the Abuja edition had exceeded expectations, particularly with the strong participation from Northern Nigeria.
He said the FCT produced 33 junior players, while Plateau and Kaduna produced 13 and 11 players respectively.
“The Under-11 had a chart of 32 that is massive. In the past for this same tournament, they used to have just 12 or 14. That shows you that what the federation is doing is working,” he said.
Attah said the growth demonstrated the impact of the NSF’s development roadmap, adding that the quality of play showed that the tournament had achieved more than simply exposing young players to competition.
Sonia DeRosesa, a visiting junior squash player, commended the commitment of the Nigerian players and expressed optimism about the future of the sport in the country.
“I would say that Nigerian squash is on the rise and that everyone should look out in the future. They’re working hard. They’re competing,” she said.
Segun Maku, a former North American and Nigerian champion, also backed increased investment in grassroots development, saying former professionals had a duty to give back to the sport that helped shape their careers.
“This tournament means a lot to me because it reminds me of my days coming up in the sport. I am glad that we, the former professionals, are giving back,” he said.
He expressed optimism that sustained development could enable Nigerian players to make a stronger impact at international competitions within the next five to 10 years.
“Hopefully, in the next five to 10 years, we will start getting into the main draws and probably start winning most international tournaments,” he said.
Iniobong Jacob called for more equipment, coaching and strategic partnerships, saying young players who had previously struggled in competitions were now showing significant improvement.
“Some of the young boys and girls you see here started playing in tournaments like this years ago. They would lose by 3-0 margins and things like that. But over time, they have progressed steadily,” he said.
Adekunle Adebiyi, Secretary of Nigerian Squash Players in the Diaspora and one of the organisers and sponsors, said the tournament cost more than N10 million and described its successful completion as fulfilling.
“Everything we did was for the children. So, we are happy and fulfilled,” Adebiyi said.
He said the organisers would continue to improve the championship and explore taking future editions to other parts of the country, including the South-East and Kano.
“Our aim is to develop the sport and go to places where we can bring new players into the game. That was why we knew we had to leave Lagos. Lagos is already well catered to,” he said.
NAN reports that the event, which commenced on Tuesday, ended on Saturday at the Squash Courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, in Abuja.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
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