The Plateau State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) says its ongoing Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) project has led to a remarkable drop in malaria cases across all 17 local government areas of the state.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Jos on Wednesday, SMEP Programme Manager, Ndas Kizito, revealed that more than 1,012,160 children under the age of five have received Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine with Amodiaquine (SPAQ) medication in the last three implementation cycles, achieving 106 percent coverage.
“The SMC intervention is significantly reducing malaria cases in Plateau,” Kizito said, noting that malaria prevalence had fallen to 18.8 percent, with an unpublished Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) suggesting a further decline to 15 percent. He expressed confidence that with the fourth and fifth cycles of SPAQ administration, Plateau could be on course to becoming malaria-free.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, hailed the achievements as a milestone in the state’s fight against malaria.
“Some years back, malaria prevalence in Plateau was around 21 percent. That figure has now dropped to about 18 percent, and with the most recent review, though yet to be made public, indications show a reduction to around 15 percent,” Baamlong said.
“If we sustain this progress, we should soon be recording less than 10 percent malaria cases per year. This is significant progress for the state, especially among children aged three months to 59 months, who are the most vulnerable,” he added.
Also speaking, Dr. Mbwas Mashor, Plateau State Project Manager of the Malaria Consortium, representing the organisation’s West and Central African Programme Director, Dr. Maxwell Kolawole, explained that the session was aimed at sensitising journalists and stakeholders while briefing them on preparations for the fourth SMC cycle, scheduled to commence across the state on September 4.
Director of Public Health, Dr. Mafwalal Bunah Masok, applauded the Malaria Consortium’s consistent support.
“Their backing has been critical in reducing malaria burden among under-five children, who are most vulnerable to severe malaria that often leads to death. The intervention has drastically cut down the burden in this high-risk age group,” he said.
Other stakeholders at the meeting—including Pharm. Lohdip Dojul, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Plateau State Chapter); Agwo Martin Dagen, Chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (Plateau State); and Dr. Nakah Joseph Nababa, representing the Nigerian Medical Association (Plateau State Chapter)—commended SMEP and the Malaria Consortium for their efforts. They also stressed the importance of the media in raising awareness and sustaining public participation in the fight against malaria.
