Child Mortality: Sokoto Govt, Sightsavers target 1.7m children for azithromycin administration
The Sokoto State Government and the NGO Sightsavers plan to administer azithromycin to 1.7 million children as part of efforts to improve healthcare and reduce child mortality.
The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Faruku Abubakar-Wurno, reiterated government commitment on Tuesday at the launching of the fifth round administration of antibiotics drug ‘Azithromycin” to children in the local government areas.
Abubakar-Wurno said in the last round four exercise, the state had recorded more than 85 per cent coverage, raising hopes for sustaining the progress.
The programme operates under the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin on Children in Nigeria (SARMAAN) designed to improve child survival outcomes through preventive treatment.
Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, thereby stopping bacterial growth, making it effective for tackling infections contributing to high childhood morbidity and mortality in vulnerable communities.
The antibiotic is commonly used to treat respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and various childhood illnesses. Its administration aligns with the World Health Organisation’s 2022 guidelines for targeted preventive treatment among at-risk populations.
The commissioner said the project had successfully treated children with azithromycin, a milestone aimed at improving life expectancy.
Dr Salman Tijjani, the SARMAN Programme Officer in Sokoto State, said the present round fifth exercise targeted 1.7m children.
He said it would be conducted between May 19 to 23 this year and solicited to more stakeholders commitment to ensuring more success.
Tijjani stated that azithromycin was a vital antibiotic used to treat various childhood ailments and played a key role in reducing infant and child deaths.
He emphasised that the SARMAAN Project aligned with global efforts to improve child survival in low- and middle-income countries, demonstrating the potential of bi-annual azithromycin administration in lowering early childhood mortality.
He added that stakeholders have monitored azithromycin’s safety and effectiveness in reducing antimicrobial resistance among treated children.
The Sightsavers Country Director, Joy Shu’aibu, explained that the programme targeted children aged zero to 59 months using azithromycin, particularly in communities battling Neglected Tropical Diseases like onchocerciasis and schistosomiasis causing significant mortality.
Shu’aubu highlighted Sightsavers’ presence in Sokoto since 1996, beginning with eye-care services that eventually led to establishing and equipping 19 healthcare centres providing consistent, community-based eye-care support.
She said through the interventions, more doctors, nurses, community health workers and auxiliary staff received specialised eye-care training, significantly strengthening the state’s capacity to deliver essential services to underserved populations.
Sultan of Sokoto, represented by Wurno District Head, Alhaji Kabiru Cigari, assured continued support for programme implementation and immunisation coverage, reaffirming traditional institutions’ commitment to improving citizens’ health.
It was reported that Sightsavers in collaboration with the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency, have mobilised 87 District Heads, 23 local government areas chairmen to support administering azithromycin to children and strengthening community participation in statewide child-health intervention efforts.