Yola: The Adamawa Government, in collaboration with Malaria Consortium, has unveiled plans to roll out a mass drug administration (MDA) program using Azithromycin to prevent killer diseases across the state. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the program is targeting no fewer than 1.1 million children.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Benjamin Gubi, Programme Manager of the Adamawa Malaria Elimination Programme, disclosed this during a media parley on the State Training of Trainers for the Azithromycin MDA. Gubi explained that Azithromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic long used in Nigeria, treats and prevents infections such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria-related illnesses, which are the three major causes of under-five mortality in the country.
The event, themed ‘Strengthening Communication and Collaboration for Effective Azithromycin MDA’, focused on promoting community awareness, partnership, and the media’s role in ensuring the success of the exercise. The initiative targets children aged one month to 59 months, aiming to significantly reduce child deaths caused by pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria.
The exercise will cover all 21 Local Government Areas, 226 wards, and communities across the state through a house-to-house approach using existing state health structures. About 1,500 trained health workers and over 6,500 community volunteers will be engaged for the four-day exercise scheduled for November 21 to 25.
Mr. Gubi noted that the intervention’s goal is to reduce under-five mortality and improve child health outcomes by preventing common infections responsible for high child death rates. He mentioned that the program was piloted in six states since 2021 and is now being scaled up to 11 states nationwide, with Nigeria recording minimal side effects during previous rounds.
Mr. Abubakar Isa, an official of the Malaria Consortium, stated that the initiative is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, and other development partners. He added that the program aligns with the state’s Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention strategy and will use syrup formulations for easy administration to children at the household level.
Dr. Lucky Daniel, Adamawa Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases, said the project, known as SARMANA 2, entails monitoring antimicrobial resistance trends to ensure children do not develop resistance to the drug. He emphasized the importance of media engagement in creating awareness, promoting acceptance, and enhancing visibility for the program, while stating that community participation remains key to its success.
Dr. Daniel insisted that the project belongs to the government and people of Adamawa, with partners providing technical and logistical support to ensure effective implementation and improved child health outcomes. The community-based child survival initiative is jointly implemented by the Malaria Consortium and the Adamawa Ministry of Health, along with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and oversight from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.