In a bid to combat child mortality, the Malaria Consortium, a non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with the Gombe State government through the State Malaria Elimination Programme (SMEP), is set to administer a massive dose of azithromycin, an antibiotic drug, to one million children in the state.

The antibiotics aim to prevent pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, which are major killers of children.

At a media briefing in Gombe, the project technical specialist working with Malaria Consortium, Dr Obiora Anidabe,
revealed that the project is being implemented in five states, with Gombe being one of them.

He stated that the drugs would be administered to children aged between one month and 59 months, adding that the programme is open to all children within this age range across the state.

According to him, the Gates Foundation is funding the initiative, which would be implemented free of charge.

“The administration of the drugs is scheduled to commence on November 10th and will last for four days at health facilities.

“We charge the media to enlighten parents to bring their children for the drug administration”, he said.

He also highlighted Malaria Consortium’s commitment to comprehensive control of malaria and other communicable diseases through evidence-based programming, research, and advocacy.

Also speaking, Abubakar Isa, state project manager, for the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin in Nigeria (SARMAAN II) Project, reiterated that the azithromycin antibiotics aim to reduce childhood mortality and morbidity and control preventable diseases by ensuring equitable access to the prevention drugs across communities in the state.