Kano suspends malaria prevention programme, sets up panel to probe implementation

By Edito 1 month ago 0

By our Correspondent

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

The state Ministry of Health announce the decision in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Malam Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, on Thursday in Kano.

According to the ministry, the suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to ensure transparency, accountability and integrity in the implementation of the malaria prevention programme.
It said the investigative committee had been mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the planning, distribution and implementation processes of the SMC programme in the state.

The ministry said all ongoing field operations, distribution of commodities and community engagement activities under the programme had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

It added that the Programme Manager had also been suspended, while responsibility for the programme had been temporarily handed over to the most senior officer to ensure continuity during the review.

The statement said the committee was chaired by Dr. Usman Bashir, Director-General of the Kano State AIDS Control Agency (SACA), and comprised heads of key health agencies in the state.

Other members are Prof. Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, Director-General of the State Primary Healthcare Management Board; Pharm. Ghali Sule, Director-General of the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency; Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, Executive Secretary of the Hospitals Management Board; and Prof. Muhammad A. Abbas, Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control.

Also on the committee are Dr. Fatima Usman Zahradden, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Health Trust Fund; Dr. Rahila A. Mukhtar, Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency; Khadijah Hussein Said, Acting Director-General of the Private Health Institutions Management Agency, while Nazeer Tanko Kyaure, Director of Administration and General Services in the Ministry of Health, will serve as secretary.

The ministry directed the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders to report to the ministry’s headquarters with all relevant programme documents, including approved work plans, distribution records and personnel lists, for verification.

It said the review was aimed at strengthening programme delivery, improving accountability and ensuring that health interventions continued to benefit residents of the state.

The government also urged all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the committee to facilitate a transparent and credible investigation.