Sokoto: The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with Sightsavers, has administered the antibiotic azithromycin to 1.1 million children as part of efforts to reduce child mortality. The State Health Educator, Mr. Sabi’u Gandi, made this announcement at a media roundtable organized by Sightsavers in Sokoto, where stakeholders reviewed child-health interventions. Gandi stated that the treatment was implemented under the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin on Children in Nigeria (SARMAAN) project, which is designed to improve child survival.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the children were treated during the fifth round of the azithromycin administration exercise conducted from December 15 to December 21, 2025, across Sokoto. The state recorded more than 90 percent coverage during the exercise, and Gandi expressed optimism that the progress would be sustained through subsequent interventions. He mentioned that 9,885 settlements, comprising 312,479 households across 213 political wards, were visited by 2,277 teams during the statewide exercise.
Gandi highlighted that a higher percentage of eligible children would be targeted during the sixth round of the exercise scheduled for October 15 to October 20. He added that 87 district heads were mobilized to support azithromycin administration to children and to strengthen community participation in statewide child-health intervention efforts. The health educator urged journalists to support the program through increased public awareness and sustained education on the importance of azithromycin in promoting healthy childhood.
The Programme Officer, Mr. Muhammad Ladan, remarked on the significance of azithromycin as a vital antibiotic used to treat various childhood ailments and its role in reducing child deaths. He emphasized that the SARMAAN project aligns with global efforts to improve child survival in low- and middle-income countries through biannual azithromycin administration. Ladan noted that the approach demonstrated the potential of preventive azithromycin administration to contribute to lowering early childhood mortality, especially among vulnerable children in affected communities.
Ladan also pointed out that stakeholders have continued to monitor azithromycin’s safety and effectiveness while assessing measures aimed at reducing antimicrobial resistance among children receiving treatment. He further highlighted Sightsavers’ presence in Sokoto since 1996, initially starting with eye-care services before establishing and equipping 19 healthcare centers. These centers have provided consistent, community-based eye-care support and strengthened access to essential services for underserved populations across the state.
Through these interventions, more healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, community health workers, and auxiliary staff, have received specialized eye-care training, thereby strengthening healthcare delivery capacity. NAN reports that azithromycin is a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, stopping bacterial growth and helping to treat bacterial infections. The antibiotic is commonly used to treat respiratory infections and other bacterial illnesses, while its preventive administration in specific settings forms part of strategies aimed at improving child survival.