Empowering Local Leadership: A Malaria Success Story in Katsina State

Since 2021, MSH, through our work with the Global Fund, has partnered with the Government of Nigeria to advance malaria prevention efforts, focusing on strengthening local capacity to procure and distribute essential medicines that protect children and pregnant women from malaria. Our collaboration with the State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP) and the State Primary Health Care Agency (SPHCA) has enabled health personnel to deliver preventive treatments door-to-door through annual campaigns in targeted communities. 

As a result of these efforts, over two million children receive life-saving medications each year under the State’s Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, which involves monthly administration of medicines during the malaria transmission season to reduce risks of severe malaria. 

Sustained Coverage and Improved Outcomes

For three consecutive years, SMC coverage among eligible children in Katsina State has reached 100%. With support from MSH, the tracking of this cohort improved significantly, increasing from 72% in 2023 to 92% in 2024. To achieve these results, MSH provided technical assistance to SMEP and SPHCA, including training on SMC implementation strategies, drug distribution management, and monitoring and evaluation practices. This training has empowered health personnel at state and community levels to handle logistics, identify eligible children, monitor adverse reactions, refer sick children, and manage commodities effectively using technology such as Android devices and specialized apps. 

This year, sustained advocacy led to a key milestone: the Katsina State government allocated and disbursed state funds to procure SMC commodities from central stores and distribute them to remote areas, marking a shift toward increased local ownership. At the official launch of the 2024 SMC campaign, Commissioner for Health Dr. Musa Funtua emphasized the importance of community participation and adherence to SMC guidelines to achieve maximum effectiveness in preventing malaria among children under age 5. He announced that the next phase of the program targets 2.2 million children, aiming for completion of treatment over a four-month period and prompt referrals of sick children to health facilities. The Commissioner and SPHCA Executive Secretary Dr. Ibrahim Suleiman conducted a high-level supervisory visit to the Comprehensive Health Center in the Kofar Guga community, where they observed community drug distributors picking up medicines and initiating door-to-door visits, thereby reinforcing the government’s commitment to the success of the SMC program.  

A Model for Sustainable Health Systems

MSH’s partnership with SMEP and SPHCA has helped to maintain 100% SMC coverage for three years and significantly reduce malaria morbidity rates in targeted communities. The increasing leadership by the Katsina State government in funding and execution represents a sustainable model for disease prevention and health systems strengthening. 

Moving forward, MSH remains committed to supporting Katsina State beyond the SMC intervention, with plans to expand training programs for health care workers and enhance community engagement initiatives.