The Kogi State Ministry of Health has conducted a high-level supervisory visit to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja as part of the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) program.
The visit was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Steven Aziz Momoh, representing the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza.
During the visit, the Commissioner reiterated that the SMC programme in Kogi State focuses on administering antimalarial drugs to healthy children aged 3-59 months at the peak of the rainy season to prevent malaria.
According to him, the State is currently implementing this intervention in all 239 wards in collaboration with Malaria Consortium, a Non-Governmental Organization.
The Commissioner emphasized the importance of monitoring and supervision in ensuring the success of the SMC exercise, commending the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital and staff for their commitment to the programme.
The CMD of the hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Bamidele Folagbade, in his response, expressed appreciation to the team for their visit and particularly for the supply of free antimalarial drugs to the hospital for all age groups in addition to the SMC exercise.
The visit was attended by key stakeholders, including the CMD Hospital Management Board, Dr. Ayo Olayemi; the Executive Secretary, Drugs Management Agency, Pharmacist Salmat Yunusa; Director Public Health, Dr. Akpa Francis; Director Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacist Abdulrahman Muhammed; and the Programme Manager, Dr. Ake Oluwarotimi Stephen.
Dorothy Onoja
PRO
Ministry of Health
