By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
Kano state government in collaboration with Global Fund have recorded success in the Fighting against malaria in the state.
The state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf stated this during the press briefing on the commemoration of 2026 World malaria day.
He said, World Malaria Day which is celebrated on the 25th April every year, set aside by the World Health Assembly to reflect on the state government collective efforts toward elimination of malaria.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran further said this is day serves to raise awareness on malaria transmission and prevention, highlight global progress, and celebrate gains made since the year 2000 as the world strives to reduce malaria incidence to zero.2026 Theme: “Driven to End Malaria:
“Globally, between 2000 and 2023, the world averted an estimated 2.2 billion malaria cases and 12.7 million deaths while in the African Region 1.7 billion cases and 12 million deaths were prevented. Despite this progress, malaria still claims a child’s life every two minutes in the world! Additionally, the 2025 World Malaria Report estimates 282 million cases across 80 endemic countries with a 9 million (3%) increase from the previous year,” Dr. Abubakar said.
According to the commissioner Africa accounts for 88% of global cases, Nigeria rank first amongst the five (5) countries responsible for nearly half the global burden (Nigeria: 24.3%, Congo: 12.5%, Uganda: 4.7%, Ethiopia: 4.4%, Mozambique: 3.6%).
Dr. Abubakar Labaran pointed out that Data from Kano showed malaria as the leading cause of approximately 60% of outpatient/hospital visits in 2025 with over 4.3 million hospital visits attributed to malaria and 2,986,786 individuals diagnosed with uncomplicated malaria BUT almost all of them (2,954,089 i.e 98.9%) who were diagnosed with malaria were treated with Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACTs).
“Kano State Government under the able leadership of Governor of Kano State Alh Abba Kabir Yusuf, has implemented (and will keep implementing) various healthcare interventions and initiatives aimed at strengthening healthcare systems across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels including private sector in Kano State, such as: Annual procurement of anti-malarial commodities: with over ₦5,476,807,217 with support from the Global Fund, across 839 health facilities, ensuring free distribution to clients,” The commissioner said.
He also highlights these commodities include: anti-malarial drugs, mRDT kits, free preventive drugs for pregnant women, Artesunate Injection, and treated nets for pregnant women and children.Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC).
“Fom July to October 2025 a total of 3,512,622 doses of SP+AQ were administered to under-five children and with a target of 3 million children expected to be prevented in 2026 (amounting to 75% of malaria cases and severe incidents expected). Distribution of free Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) across the state for the prevention of malaria especially amongst children.Other approaches include our direction towards malaria elimination through encouraging local manufacturing of commodities; data-driven decisions and capacity building of our health personnel on Integrated Vector Management (IVM) and Entomological Surveillance to strengthen vector control and insecticide resistance management, he added.
The commissioner further said Kano State Government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) have concluded preparations to pilot Larval Source Management (LSM) in one of the state four priority LGAs with persistent malaria despite high ITN coverage, at a cost of over ₦100 million this year.
“With these interventions malaria prevalence among under-five children in Kano state according to the Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (NMIS) 2025 has dropped to 18% against previous figure of 26% in the NMIS 2021 and from 32.4% (NDHS 2018) to 18.3% (NDHS 2023/24) as against the national average of 23% (NDHS 2023/24),” He said.
