Malaria: Society for Family Health reaches over 1m children with medicines

Over 1, 110, 342 children aged 3-59 months have benefitted from the recently completed Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) of the Society for Family Health (SFH) in Adamawa State. A statement from SFH disclosed that the children were reached with Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine (SPAQ) for the 2024 SMC campaign that ran from June – September 2024. […]

Over 1, 110, 342 children aged 3-59 months have benefitted from the recently completed Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) of the Society for Family Health (SFH) in Adamawa State.

A statement from SFH disclosed that the children were reached with Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine (SPAQ) for the 2024 SMC campaign that ran from June – September 2024.

The campaign, aimed at reducing the burden of malaria during the rainy season, also marked an impressive 90% cohort retention, underscoring the programme’s effectiveness in protecting vulnerable children across the state.

The SMC campaign, supported by the Adamawa State government and local partners, involved a series of rounds (4 cycles) where children received SPAQ, a preventive treatment that significantly reduces the risk of malaria infection. Through a well-coordinated effort, the SFH team worked with local health workers and Community Drug Distributors to ensure that every eligible child was reached, even in the most remote and hard-to-reach communities.

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The caregivers in Adamawa State have widely praised the success of the campaign, citing not only the accessibility of the life-saving SPAQ but also the professionalism and care provided by SFH and the local health teams.

Fatima Musa, a mother from Gombi, said: “I used to worry every rainy season about my children getting malaria. Now, after receiving the medicine, my children are healthy, and I haven’t had to visit the hospital for malaria treatment. I am grateful to SFH for bringing this to our community.”

Also, Josephine Ali, a caregiver from Mubi North, said, “The health workers didn’t just give us the medicine and leave; they came back to check that our children took the full doses. Their dedication has really helped us protect our kids.”

Adamawa State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP) commended SFH for its exceptional work in delivering a successful SMC campaign.

The Programme Manager for Adamawa State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP), Benjamin Nashom, commended SFH for its meticulous planning, execution, and commitment to reducing malaria-related deaths in the state.

“We are thrilled to see such a high level of success in this year’s SMC campaign, and we owe much of that to the tireless efforts of SFH and its team. Reaching 100% coverage is a remarkable achievement, and the 90% cohort retention shows that our children are receiving the full course of treatment, which is critical to reducing malaria infections.

“SFH’s ability to access hard-to-reach communities was vital. These are areas where malaria cases are often highest due to lack of access to healthcare and reaching them with SPAQ has saved lives. The state is committed to supporting future efforts to ensure we continue to

protect our children from this deadly disease,” he said.