The Jigawa State government says it targets about 1.4 million children for anti-malarial drugs in its 2026 seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) campaign across the state.

The malaria control programme officer in Jigawa, Bilya Haruna, said this on Tuesday in Dutse.

Mr Haruna said the 2025 World Malaria Report estimated about 282 million malaria cases and about 610,000 deaths globally, noting that Nigeria accounted for 27 per cent of cases and 31 per cent of deaths.

He added that about 24.47 million malaria cases were recorded in Nigeria, while 66 per cent of outpatient hospital attendance in Jigawa State was linked to malaria infections.

According to him, the 2026 SMC campaign, scheduled from July to October, aims to cover 1.4 million children under five years to prevent malaria infections in the state.

Mr Haruna said the campaign would also include distribution of free testing and treatment drugs across 610 health facilities, alongside preventive interventions for vulnerable groups.

He added that free insecticide-treated mosquito nets would be distributed to pregnant women during antenatal care visits and to children under five during immunisation sessions.

He listed the drugs to be distributed as malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), and artesunate injections for effective case management.

(NAN)