By Uzairu Dauda:
As the world commemorates World Health Day 2026, the SARMAAN Project has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing child survival across Nigeria, marking a major milestone in its nationwide health interventions.
This is contained in a Press Release issue to newsmen on the World Health Day, which serves as a global call to action bringing together governments, institutions, and communities to tackle pressing health challenges, including maternal and child health, mental health, and the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.
The release highlights the urgent need to strengthen health systems and ensure equitable access to life-saving interventions.
The SARMAAN Project said it continues to demonstrate the impact of large-scale, targeted public health initiatives, between 2024 and 2026, the project has reached 15.76 million unique children aged 1–59 months across ten northern Nigerian states, administering over 26 million doses of Azithromycin to combat preventable childhood illnesses.
It said, in the first quarter of 2026 alone, 7,215,455 children were reached through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaigns in Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Kaduna States, underscoring the project’s growing scale and effectiveness.
Speaking on the milestone, the Principal Investigator of the SARMAAN Project and Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Mr Oliver Ezechi, stated tga World Health Day reminds public that health is a shared responsibility and a fundamental right.
He said at SARMAAN, their work is to reflects this principle by ensuring that children regardless of their circumstances have access to life-saving interventions.
Mr Ezechi said, the project is committed to building trust, strengthening systems, and empowering communities to take charge of their health.
Reinforcing the importance of sustainability, the Project Lead of the SARMAAN Advocacy Team, Ikechukwu Ofuani, emphasized the need for long-term national ownership.
He said, the progress recorded through the SARMAAN Project is significant, it is critical to chart a clear path toward sustainability, that includes supporting the Government of Nigeria to progressively take ownership by integrating the initiative into national health priorities, funding frameworks, and implementation structures.
He added that the future of child survival interventions must be locally driven, government-led, and system-embedded to ensure that no child is left behind.
Mr Ofuani said the success of the SARMAAN Project reflects strong collaboration among donors, implementing partners, researchers, and government institutions, demonstrating the power of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing public health outcomes.
