FCT Targets One Million Children in 2025 Malaria Prevention Campaign
The Federal Capital Territory has launched its 2025 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign, targeting one million children aged 3 months to 5 years across six area councils.
Health Services Mandate Secretary Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe announced the initiative at the flag off ceremony in Kado-Kuchi, AMAC, noting that Nigeria accounts for 27% of global malaria cases, with children under 5 most affected by the 30% of malaria deaths in the country.
The campaign involves administering free antimalarial medicines (Sulfadoxine, Pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine therapy) through trained Community Drug Distributors going door-to-door. Since SMC’s introduction in FCT in 2022, there has been a 41% reduction in malaria cases.
The first cycle begins June 13 and runs through October 2025, with monthly 3-day treatments administered for five months during peak transmission season. In 2024, the program reached 97.8% of targeted children across 274 health facilities in 62 wards.
Dr. Olusola Oresanya from Malaria Consortium confirmed the drugs are WHO-approved and safe for children, pledging continued support for the initiative. The Hakimi of Kado-Kuchi urged residents to cooperate with distributors, praising FCTA’s efforts including free malaria treatment at FCT health facilities.
The campaign aims to significantly reduce hospital visits and child mortality during the rainy season when malaria transmission peaks.
