*KANO RESTRUCTURES SMC TEAM TO STRENGTHEN MALARIA PREVENTION

By Aminu Garko
Kano, September 14, 2026 – The Kano State Government has approved the restructuring of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, SMC, Programme Team following the review of an investigative committee’s report on the preparation and implementation of the 2026 SMC exercise in the state.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Health, Nabilusi Abubakar K/Na’isa, on Sunday.
The restructuring is aimed at repositioning the SMC programme for improved performance and strengthening coordination, supervision, monitoring and accountability at all levels.
The new team is headed by the Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu Umar. Other members include Programme Manager, Babangida Musa; Deputy Programme Manager, Abdullahi Koki; Assistant Programme Manager, Dr. Usman Umar Saurayi; State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Ibrahim Zubairu; and Deputy State M&E Officer, Bashir Maikano, alongside six State Primary Health Care Management Board Zonal M&E Officers, LGA M&E Officers, Programme M&E Officers and Roll Back Malaria, RBM, Officers.
According to the resolutions, the restructuring is expected to improve coordination and supervision across state, zonal, LGA and ward levels, strengthen data quality, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and promote accountability and transparency in the distribution of commodities and resources.
It is also expected to address gaps identified during the first round and ensure the timely and effective implementation of the remaining two rounds of the 2026 SMC exercise. The restructured team is expected to commence work immediately.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to the successful implementation of the SMC programme as a critical intervention for the prevention and control of malaria among children under five years, and called on all stakeholders to work together to achieve the objectives of the intervention.


