Malaria: Benue Approves N294.53m to Protect Children

The Benue State Government has approved the sum of N294.53 million as counterpart funding for the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Campaign across the state, in a further demonstration of its commitment to strengthening preventive healthcare and protecting children from malaria.

The approval was given at the State Executive and Security Council meeting at the Government House, Makurdi, presided over by the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

Speaking on the development, the Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Paul Ogwuche commended Governor Alia for the approval, describing it as a clear demonstration of his commitment to protecting the lives of Benue children and investing in preventive healthcare.

The health commissioner said the decision reflects the Governor’s broader vision of repositioning the health sector through strategic investment, stronger partnerships, improved coordination and greater accountability for health outcomes.

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He noted that the Ministry of Health and Human Services, under the present administration, has continued to pursue a more proactive approach to health-sector development, with emphasis on resource mobilisation, partnership building, effective programme coordination and interventions that deliver measurable benefits to the people of the state.

Mister Ogwuche explained that the state’s counterpart funding will complement the financial, technical and implementation support provided by the development partner, PATH, for the 2026 SMC campaign, while strengthening government ownership and sustainability of the programme.

The commissioner emphasised that the success of the campaign will depend not only on the resources committed by government but also on the dedication, professionalism and accountability of those responsible for its implementation.

He therefore charged healthcare workers, programme managers and volunteers to ensure that the medicines and other campaign resources reach their intended beneficiaries, while maintaining accurate records, effective community engagement, proper supervision and timely reporting.

The Commissioner stressed that the substantial investment by the Government must translate into real health gains and improved protection for Benue children, urging all personnel involved to regard the campaign as an investment in the survival and future of the state’s younger generation.

He also called on parents, caregivers, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders to complement government’s efforts by ensuring that all eligible children participate in the campaign and receive the recommended medicines from trained health personnel.

Communities were urged to cooperate with health workers and support mobilisation activities to achieve the widest possible coverage.

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is a proven public health intervention designed to protect children in areas where malaria transmission is seasonal and intense. It involves administering recommended antimalarial medicines to eligible children during the peak malaria transmission period, irrespective of whether they are showing symptoms of malaria.

The SMC campaign complements other malaria-control measures, including the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of malaria, environmental sanitation and community-based health education.