The Kano government has restructured its Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Programme team to improve the implementation of the 2026 exercise.

The decision followed the review of an investigative committee’s report on the preparation and implementation of the first round of the programme, according to a statement on Monday by Nabilusi Abubakar, the spokesman for the health ministry.

The statement said the restructuring aimed to strengthen coordination, supervision, monitoring, and accountability.

It said, “The new team is headed by the Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr Ibrahim Aliyu-Umar. Other members are: the Programme Manager, Babangida Musa; Deputy Programme Manager, Abdullahi Koki; Assistant Programme Manager, Dr Usman Umar; State Director of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Ibrahim Zubairu; and Deputy State Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Bashir Maikano.

“The team also comprises six State Primary Health Care Management Board members, Zonal Monitoring and Evaluation officers, LGA Monitoring and Evaluation officers, Programme Monitoring and Evaluation officers, and Resident Behavioural Mobilisers (RBMs).”

According to the statement, the restructuring is expected to address gaps identified during the first round, improve data quality and reporting, and strengthen accountability in the distribution of commodities and resources.

It said the team would also ensure the effective implementation of the remaining two rounds of the 2026 SMC exercise.

The statement added that the restructured team was expected to commence work immediately. It also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to SMC as a key intervention in preventing and controlling malaria among children under five, while urging all stakeholders to support the programme to achieve its set objectives.

(NAN)