Kano State Govt Suspends Malaria Programme, Orders Probe
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Kano State Government has suspended all Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme activities across the state as part of efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in the implementation of the life-saving intervention.
This is contained in a statement signed by Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa,Public Relations Officer of the state’s Ministry of Health.
“The Kano State Government has approved the immediate suspension of all Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) programme activities across the State as part of efforts to ensure transparency, accountability, and integrity in the implementation of the life-saving intervention,” K/Na’isa said.
He said the decision followed the constitution of a high-level investigative committee mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the planning, distribution, and implementation processes of the SMC programme in Kano State.
He quoted an official directive issued by the State Ministry of Health, which said the suspension took immediate effect and is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into programme operations, documentation, personnel records, and all related implementation activities.
“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 Programme Manager has also been suspended with immediate effect, while programme responsibilities have been temporarily transferred to the most senior officer within the programme to ensure proper coordination during the review period,”the Public Relations Officer said.
To guarantee credibility, objectivity, and professionalism, the statement further said,the State Government had constituted a high-powered committee comprising heads of key health agencies in the state.
The committee is chaired by the Director General of the State AIDS Control Agency (SACA), Dr. Usman Bashir, and includes:
Prof. Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim, Director General, State Primary Healthcare Management Board (SPHCMB) Member.
Pharm. Ghali Sule, Director General, Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) Member,Dr. Mansur Mudi Nagoda, Executive Secretary, Hospitals Management Board (HMB) Member,Prof. Muhammad A. Abbas, Director General, Kano Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) Member,
Dr. Fatima Usman Zahradden, Executive Secretary, Kano Health Trust Fund (KHETFUND) MemberDr. Rahila A. Mukhtar, Executive Secretary, Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA),Member.
Other members are:Khadijah Hussein Said, Acting Director General, Private Health Institutions Management Agency (PHIMA) and Nazeer Tanko Kyaure, Director Administration and General Services (DAGS), Ministry of Health to serve as Secretary of the committee.
The Ministry further directed the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, implementing partners, and other relevant stakeholders to report to the Ministry’s Headquarters with all required programme documents, including approved work plans, distribution records, and candidate lists for verification and assessment.
The Government reiterated its unwavering commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and efficient utilization of public resources in all health programmes.
It assured development partners and the general public that the ongoing review is aimed at strengthening programme delivery and ensuring that health interventions continue to benefit the people of Kano State effectively.
The Government therefore called on all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the investigative committee and remain committed to supporting efforts aimed at improving healthcare service delivery across the State.