Kano Suspends Malaria Prevention Programme, Sets Up Probe Committee

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 decision, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, is aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the execution of the malaria prevention intervention.

Nabilusi said the suspension followed the establishment of an investigative committee tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the planning, distribution, and implementation processes of the programme.

He explained that the suspension takes immediate effect and will allow the committee to thoroughly examine programme operations.

“As part of the committee’s resolutions, all ongoing field operations, distributions, and community engagement activities under the SMC programme have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation,” the statement said.

The ministry also announced the immediate suspension of the Programme Manager. Programme responsibilities have been temporarily handed over to the most senior officer within the programme to ensure continuity and coordination during the review period.

To ensure credibility and professionalism in the investigation, the state government constituted a committee made up of heads of key health agencies and institutions.

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

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

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

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

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the efficient use of public resources in the health sector.

It assured development partners and residents that the review is intended to strengthen programme delivery and ensure that healthcare interventions continue to effectively serve the people of Kano State.

The government also called on stakeholders to cooperate fully with the committee as it carries out its assignment to improve healthcare service delivery across the state.