Stakeholders in the fight against malaria have launched a door-to-door prevention campaign for children under five in the FCT.
The campaign aims to reach at least one million children with lifesaving antimalarial medicines during the peak transmission season.
Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), announced this during the inauguration of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign on Monday in Durumi, Abuja.
Organized by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), HSES, the FCT Malaria Elimination Programme, and Malaria Consortium, among others, the intervention will cover all six area councils of the FCT, targeting 1.02 million children aged three to 59 months.
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Fasawe explained that trained Community Drug Distributors will go from house to house to administer free antimalarial medicines, ensuring no eligible child is missed during the campaign.
She said the first cycle would start on Thursday and continue monthly for five cycles until October.
“Malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide, although it is both preventable and treatable.
“Nigeria accounts for approximately 27 percent of global malaria cases and about 30 percent of malaria deaths, most of which occur among children under five.
“During the rainy season, when transmission peaks, thousands of young lives are lost to this preventable disease,” she stated.
Fasawe noted that the programme, which began in the FCT in 2022, has significantly reduced malaria prevalence among children.
She cited a 58 percent drop in malaria prevalence, from 18.8 percent in 2021 to 7.9 percent in 2025, attributing this success to collaborative efforts with partners like Malaria Consortium.
She urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children complete the full three-day antimalarial treatment each month during the five-month campaign.
“The drugs are safe, free, and provide protection during the peak transmission season. This intervention will reduce hospital visits, save family resources, and most importantly, save lives,” she emphasized.
She also encouraged residents to enroll in the FCT Health Insurance Scheme to reduce out-of-pocket health expenses.
Earlier, Dr. Jenifer Chukwumerije, Technical Specialist at Malaria Consortium, highlighted the public health threat posed by malaria, noting Nigeria recorded 68.47 million cases in 2024.
She added that Nigeria accounts for 24.3 percent of global malaria cases and 38.6 percent of malaria deaths among children under five.
Chukwumerije stressed that SMC remains one of the most effective strategies for reducing malaria-related illnesses and deaths in children. In 2025, Malaria Consortium reached 23.52 million children across several countries, including Nigeria.
She praised the FCT Administration’s commitment to malaria control and called for continued government support and funding to sustain the programme long-term.
“Together, we can ensure every eligible child in the FCT is protected from malaria and move closer to a malaria-free Nigeria,” she said.
Mr. Ogwuche Wilson, Desk Officer at the FCT World Health Organization (WHO), reaffirmed WHO’s support in reducing Nigeria’s malaria burden.
The Chief of Durumi community, Tanko Anyidadubo, expressed gratitude for the intervention and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to ensuring every eligible child receives the medication in the effort to eliminate malaria in Nigeria.
