The future of the SARMAAN child-survival programme in Bauchi could extend beyond its current project cycle, as the state government considers making it part of its regular health activities.
The move followed a meeting between the SARMAAN team and senior officials of the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, including the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary and Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Yakubu Dauda.
The team reviewed three rounds of SARMAAN implementation in the state and presented plans to integrate the programme into government health planning and budgeting.
The Commissioner pledged to support its inclusion among priority programmes in the state’s Annual Operational Plan, saying the initiative aligns with efforts to improve health outcomes, particularly among children.
He directed the DPRS to work closely with the SARMAAN team and called for discussions with the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency to ensure the programme is aligned with existing primary healthcare structures.
SARMAAN, which stands for Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Children, involves administering azithromycin to eligible children at scheduled intervals while assessing its safety, effectiveness and potential impact on antimicrobial resistance.
The programme is led by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and organisations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AFENET Nigeria, Malaria Consortium, Sightsavers, eHealth Africa, SCIDaR and Mitosath.
The first phase targeted children aged one to 11 months in selected states, while SARMAAN II, running from 2024 to 2027, expanded the intervention to children aged one to 59 months across 11 northern states, including Bauchi.
