Kano suspends Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Programme, launches probe

The Kano State Government has suspended all activities under the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Programme across the state and constituted a high-level committee to investigate the implementation of the intervention.

The government also suspended the programme manager with immediate effect and transferred the programme’s responsibilities to the most senior officer pending the outcome of the investigation.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar.

According to the statement, the decision followed the constitution of a high-level investigative committee mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the planning, distribution and implementation processes of the programme in the state.

“The suspension takes immediate effect and is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into the programme’s operations, documentation, personnel records and all related implementation activities,” the ministry stated.

It added that all ongoing field operations, medicine distribution and community engagement activities under the programme had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The committee is chaired by the Director-General of the Kano State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Usman Bashir, and comprises heads of key health institutions, including the State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, Hospitals Management Board, and Kano Centre for Disease Control, among others.

The ministry also directed the programme’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders to report to its headquarters with approved work plans, distribution records, candidate lists and other relevant documents for verification.

“The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders are required to report to the ministry’s headquarters with all approved work plans, distribution records and candidate lists for verification and assessment,” the statement added.

The state government said the review was aimed at strengthening transparency and improving service delivery rather than disrupting malaria control efforts.

“The Kano State Government remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and the efficient utilisation of public resources in all health programmes. The ongoing review is aimed at strengthening programme delivery and ensuring that health interventions continue to benefit the people of Kano State effectively,” the statement said.