The Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Nigeria (SARMAAN) Project has called for stronger national ownership and sustainable funding for child health programmes across the country.

Speaking at the observance of World Health Day, the Principal Investigator of the SARMAAN Project and Director of Research at the Clinical Sciences Department of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Oliver Ezechi, said the event provides a global platform to spotlight critical health priorities and galvanise action among governments, institutions, and communities.

He noted that the day highlights the need to strengthen health systems, expand equitable access to life-saving interventions, and address pressing challenges such as maternal and child health, mental health, and the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.

According to him, the observance underscores the principle that health is both a shared responsibility and a fundamental right, adding that reaching over 15 million children demonstrates what is achievable when global priorities align with effective local implementation.

Ezechi described the project as a model of how large-scale, targeted public health interventions can improve child survival outcomes. He added that beyond service delivery, the initiative emphasises sustained advocacy, awareness, and coordinated action to achieve long-term improvements in health systems and outcomes.

He disclosed that between 2024 and 2026, the project reached 15.76 million children across 10 northern states, administering over 26 million doses of Azithromycin as part of its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) strategy. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 7,215,455 children were reached in Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Kaduna states, reflecting the programme’s expanding impact.

The interventions, he explained, are designed not only to reduce preventable childhood illnesses but also to strengthen community engagement and acceptance. The project integrates communication for development, stakeholder dialogue, and community participation to ensure interventions are understood, supported, and sustained at the grassroots level.

Ezechi added that each figure represents a child protected and a family supported, stressing that the project’s focus goes beyond service delivery to building trust, strengthening systems, and empowering communities, an approach he said is essential for achieving sustainable reductions in preventable child deaths.

Reinforcing the call for long-term sustainability, Project Lead of the SARMAAN Advocacy Team, Ikechukwu Ofuani, emphasised the need to transition from donor-dependent models to nationally owned and driven health systems.

He said it is critical to support the Federal Government in integrating child health interventions into national priorities, funding mechanisms, and implementation structures.

While donor support has driven much of the progress recorded, he noted that future gains must be anchored on domestic ownership to ensure continuity and resilience.

Ofuani added that true impact should not only be measured by current reach but by the ability of programmes to be sustained over time within national systems.

The project also highlighted that its achievements are the result of collaboration among donors, implementing partners, researchers, and government ministries, departments, and agencies. It noted that this multi-stakeholder model aligns with global health priorities and reflects the collaborative approach promoted by the REACH Network, under which SARMAAN operates.

It reaffirmed its commitment to expanding coverage, strengthening implementation, and contributing to ongoing efforts to improve child survival, stressing that lasting progress will depend on sustained financing, strategic collaboration, and strong national ownership to ensure that no child is left behind.