The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has launched an intensified rainy‑season preparedness programme aimed at preventing and rapidly responding to outbreaks of malaria, cholera and other seasonal illnesses across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmad said on Monday, that the ministry is working with local government health authorities, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) and development partners — including the NCDC, NMEP, WHO and UNICEF — to strengthen surveillance, pre‑position supplies and deploy rapid‑response teams where needed.
Expanded surveillance, rapid response
According to Ahmad, the ministry has scaled up Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) activities and reactivated the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) to ensure rapid detection, laboratory confirmation and containment of outbreak signals; Rapid Response Teams will be deployed to investigate suspected outbreaks immediately.
Cholera and WASH measures
“To reduce cholera risk, the ministry has prepositioned treatment commodities — oral rehydration salts (ORS), IV fluids, antibiotics and infection‑prevention materials — and trained health workers in cholera case management and laboratory diagnosis.”
“We have also intensified water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) campaigns that include water quality monitoring, chlorination where necessary, community sanitation drives and messaging to discourage open defecation.”
Malaria prevention and SMC campaign
Kaduna plans broad malaria prevention activities including distribution of insecticide‑treated nets (prioritising pregnant women and children under five), continuous supply of rapid diagnostic tests and antimalarial medicines, and community education to clear breeding sites.
In a major preventive push, the ministry said Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) will cover 2,108,611 children aged 3–59 months with monthly antimalarial doses during July, August and September.
Azithromycin mass drug administration
As part of child‑health interventions, the ministry will run the SARMAAN II azithromycin mass drug administration, delivering a single dose to 2,628,432 children aged 1–59 months to reduce deaths from diarrhoeal and respiratory infections.
Flood preparedness and health‑facility readiness
Ahmad further said the Ministry is coordinating with KADSEMA to identify flood‑prone communities, prepare emergency medical supplies and teams, and support health service delivery for displaced populations while actively monitoring post‑flood disease risks.
“Health facilities across the state have been asked to ensure adequate stocks of essential medicines, diagnostics and consumables, strengthen referral systems and refresh clinical training for rainy‑season illnesses.”
Risk communication and community engagement
“The state will intensify public awareness through radio, television, social media, community dialogues and religious institutions to promote early care‑seeking, safe water and sanitation practices, and the use of insecticide‑treated nets, she said, adding that “traditional and community leaders will be engaged to reinforce messages.
Ahmad urged residents to maintain environmental sanitation, ensure eligible children receive SMC and azithromycin during campaign periods, drink safe water and seek prompt care for illnesses, saying collective action will reduce preventable disease and save lives.
