Jigawa Govt Disburses 1.4 Million SMC, Shifts ITN Distribution to August 17

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

The Jigawa State Government, in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium, has distributed over 1.4 million doses of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) across the state.

This announcement was made by Dr. Mahmud Abdulwahab, Director of Public Health at the state Ministry of Health, during the first review meeting held on Wednesday at the New Secretariat in Dutse. Dr. Abdulwahab reported that the distribution exercise was highly successful, achieving over 90 percent coverage of the targeted beneficiaries.

He also announced a change in the schedule for distributing Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs), originally set to begin on August 9, 2024. The new distribution date is August 17, 2024. This adjustment was necessary due to a nationwide protest that resulted in the looting of ITN storage facilities in the Birnin Kudu and Babura local government areas.

Dr. Abdulwahab stated that, following appeals through town announcers, many residents have started returning the stolen ITNs. “So far, out of the 227,000 ITNs taken from Birnin Kudu, we have recovered 47,500. In Babura, out of 131,000 ITNs taken, we have received 34,000,” he said.