Kano suspends malaria prevention program, launches probe into implementation

The Kano State Government has suspended all activities under the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, SMC, programme and set up a high-level committee to investigate its implementation across the state.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar.

According to the statement, the suspension takes immediate effect to allow for a comprehensive review of the planning, distribution and implementation of the programme.

The ministry directed that all ongoing field operations, drug distributions and community engagement activities under the SMC programme be halted pending the outcome of the investigation.

It also announced the immediate suspension of the programme manager, with his responsibilities temporarily assigned to the most senior officer in the programme to ensure continuity and coordination during the review period.

Mr Abubakar said the investigative committee had been mandated to examine all aspects of the programme, including its operations, documentation, personnel records and other implementation activities.

The committee is chaired by the Director-General of the State AIDS Control Agency, SACA, Usman Bashir.

Other members are Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, Director-General of the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, SPHCMB; Ghali Sule, Director-General of the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, DMCSA; Mansur Mudi Nagoda, Executive Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board, HMB; Muhammad A. Abbas, Director-General of the Kano Centre for Disease Control, KNCDC; Fatima Usman Zahradden, Executive Secretary of the Kano Health Trust Fund, KHETFUND; Rahila A. Mukhtar, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, KSCHMA; Khadijah Hussein Said, Acting Director-General of the Private Health Institutions Management Agency, PHIMA; and Nazeer Tanko Kyaure, Director of Administration and General Services in the Ministry of Health, who will serve as secretary.

The ministry also directed the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other stakeholders to report to its headquarters with approved work plans, distribution records and beneficiary lists for verification.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public health programmes, assuring development partners and the public that the review was intended to strengthen programme delivery and improve service effectiveness.

It also urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the investigative committee as it carries out its assignment.