By Dorothy Onoja
The Kogi State Government, in collaboration with the Malaria Consortium, has commenced inaugurated a three-day training program designed to enhance the state’s efforts in combating malaria.
This initiative, targeting community-level implementers, aims to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills for the effective distribution of anti-malaria medications and the implementation of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) strategies.
The training is being held at Afins Hotel in Okene from May 15 to May 17, 2025.
The program was officially declared opened by the Kogi State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adams Abdulazeez Adeiza, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Dorcas Enehe Omeneke.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce malaria prevalence in Kogi State, particularly among children under the age of five.
In his opening remarks, the Commissioner welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude to the Malaria Consortium and other partners for their invaluable support.
He underscored the significance of the training program and urged participants to take ownership of their roles in ensuring the successful implementation of SMC within their respective local government areas.
The Commissioner also cautioned against the diversion of anti-malaria drugs, emphasizing that participants bear the responsibility of ensuring these medications are utilized for their intended purpose.
Pharm. Andrew, the State Coordinator of the Malaria Consortium, elaborated on the objectives of the State Training of Trainers (SToT) program.
He emphasized that the training is designed to empower community-level trainers with the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective implementation of SMC in 2025.
The curriculum will encompass technological components, enabling participants to train health facility workers in their respective Local Government Areas (LGAs) throughout the state.
These health facility workers will subsequently train approximately 9,470 Community Drug Distributors, thereby amplifying the reach and impact of malaria prevention efforts
Dr. Ake Stephen, the State Program Coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Program, emphasized that the training aims to ensure state supervisors and 21 LGA teams are trained to deliver SMC in their respective LGAs towards a successful 2025 implementation.
He noted that SMC is a chemoprevention strategy that complements other vector control interventions, including the use of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), and environmental sanitation.
The program is designed to promote sustainability and transparency, with a focus on imparting knowledge that can be transferred to others.
With anti-malaria drugs already distributed to 249 locations across the state, the training program is a critical component of the state’s malaria control strategy.
The training will be followed up with additional sessions before each of the five cycles of SMC implementation, starting from May to October.
The effectiveness of the training program will be monitored through pre-tests and post-tests, and an independent Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) survey will be conducted after every cycle of drug administration.
The Malaria Consortium has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the SMC program in Kogi State, and the partnership between the state government and the Consortium has shown notable success in reducing malaria prevalence in the state.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
