The Benue State Government has approved N294.53m as counterpart funding for the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention campaign across the state.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi on Saturday.

Ogwuche said the approval was given at the State Executive and Security Council meeting held on Friday at the Government House, Makurdi.

The commissioner said the funding further demonstrated the government’s commitment to strengthening preventive healthcare and protecting children from malaria.

Ogwuche said the decision reflected the governor’s broader vision of repositioning the health sector through strategic investment, stronger partnerships, improved coordination and greater accountability for health outcomes.

He said, “the Ministry of Health and Human Services, under the present administration, has continued to pursue a more proactive approach to health-sector development, with emphasis on resource mobilisation, partnership building, effective programme coordination and interventions that deliver measurable benefits to the people of the state.”

“The approved N294.53 million state’s counterpart funding will complement the financial, technical and implementation support provided by the development partner, PATH, for the 2026 SMC campaign and strengthen government ownership and sustainability of the programme.”

Ogwuche emphasised that the “success of the campaign would depend not only on the resources committed by the government” but also on the “dedication, professionalism and accountability of those responsible for its implementation.”

He, however, charged healthcare workers, programme managers and volunteers to ensure that the medicines and other campaign resources reached their intended beneficiaries.

He also urged them to maintain accurate records, ensure effective community engagement and proper supervision, and provide timely reports.

The commissioner called on parents, caregivers, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders and other stakeholders to complement the government’s efforts by ensuring that all eligible children participated in the campaign and received the recommended medicines from trained health personnel.

He urged communities to cooperate with health workers and support mobilisation activities to achieve the widest possible coverage.

The commissioner also appreciated the development partner, PATH, for supporting the 2026 SMC campaign and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with development partners, health workers and communities to ensure effective implementation of the campaign and maximum impact from the resources approved by the state government.

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is a public health intervention designed to protect children in areas where malaria transmission is seasonal and intense.

It involves administering recommended antimalarial medicines to eligible children during the peak malaria transmission period, irrespective of whether they are showing symptoms of malaria.