The wife of the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Helen Mutfwang says Plateau State is among the states that recorded remarkable reductions in malaria prevalence in Nigeria, declining from 18.8 per cent in 2021 to 2.8 per cent in 2025.
She disclosed this at the flag-off of the 2026 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) Campaign held at Crispan Hotel, Jos.
She explained that the event marks another important step in the collective commitment to safeguarding the health and future of children across the state.
According to her, malaria is both preventable and treatable, but it continues to impose a heavy burden on families and communities as one of the leading causes of illness and death among children below the age of five in Nigeria.
“However, through the commitment of government, healthcare workers, communities, and our partners, significant progress is being made.
“This achievement demonstrates that with strong leadership, effective partnerships, and community participation, malaria can be defeated,” she said.
The First Lady explained that one of the major contributors to the success recorded by the state was the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme, a World Health Organisation-recommended intervention that provides safe and effective protection against malaria for children aged three to 59 months during the high-transmission season.
“By ensuring that eligible children receive these medicines monthly, we can prevent severe illness and save thousands of young lives. This intervention has been carried out by the state government since 2021 in partnership with Malaria Consortium,” she said.
Mrs Mutfwang noted that Plateau State’s achievements in malaria control had attracted greater confidence from development partners.
“In recognition of the outstanding results achieved through its partnership with the state government, Malaria Consortium had expanded its collaboration beyond malaria control to support improved routine immunisation uptake among children.
“This initiative will commence in Pankshin, Kanke, and Langtang North Local Government Areas, where immunisation coverage gaps have been identified.
“Healthcare workers will engage mothers, caregivers, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, religious institutions, and other stakeholders to identify barriers to immunisation and encourage full vaccination of eligible children,” she added.
The wife of the Governor stressed that the expanded partnership was evidence that the performance of the ‘Time is Now’ administration was attracting greater local and international opportunities and investments for the benefit of Plateau people.
She applauded healthcare workers, community volunteers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups, and youth organisations whose dedication had contributed immensely to the progress being celebrated in the state.
“As we flag off the 2026 SMC campaign, let us remember that malaria prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Let us ensure that our children receive their SMC medicines. They are free, safe and effective.
“Remember also to sleep under insecticide-treated nets with the children, seek prompt testing and treatment when ill, and live in clean environments that discourage mosquito breeding,” she added.
Mrs Mutfwang urged communities to continue supporting childhood immunisation and other preventive healthcare services that help children grow healthy and strong.
The First Lady commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery under the “Time is Now” Agenda.
“l also express sincere appreciation to Malaria Consortium, the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Malaria Elimination Programme, and all our development partners for their continued support to Plateau State,” she said.
In his remarks, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, appreciated the First Lady for her consistent support, which he said had contributed significantly to the achievements recorded in the health sector.
He added that health workers had been adequately trained to contribute meaningfully to the success of the programme.
Baamlong also commended Governor Mutfwang for his unwavering commitment and support towards healthcare programmes in the state.
Highpoint of the event was decoration of Mrs Mutfwang as the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Ambassador, while the wives of local government chairmen were decorated as SMC Advocates, among other honours.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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