By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

As part of efforts to enhance healthcare delivery, Kwara State Government has organised a two-day intensive workshop for medical doctors across the State’s health facilities, focusing on the management of severe malaria.

The workshop, dubbed, Training of Trainers, was organised by the State Ministry of Health with the theme: “Strengthening Clinical Capacity for Early Detection, Effective Management, and Reduction of Mortality from Severe Malaria”. The training aimed to boost the clinical skills of frontline healthcare professionals in the fight against severe malaria.

This initiative was part of the broader state malaria control efforts, including preparations for the 2025 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign.

The SMC programme will see the house-to-house distribution of preventive antimalarial medication to children aged 3–59 months across 11 eligible local government areas in Kwara State.

Declaring the training open, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, emphasised the urgency of early diagnosis and prompt treatment of severe malaria, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children under five and pregnant women.

While acknowledging the significant strides made in malaria prevention and control, he noted that severe malaria remains a major public health threat in Nigeria and Kwara State.

Dr. Fakayode commended the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for its unwavering commitment to malaria elimination and his continuous investment in strengthening clinical capacity across all levels of care.

In her remarks, the Programme Manager of the Malaria Unit, Alhaja Latifat Abdullahi, expressed deep appreciation to the participating medical doctors for their dedication to the cause, despite their demanding schedules.

She emphasised the importance of continuous professional development in achieving better healthcare outcomes and urged the doctors to put their newly acquired skills into practice.

Dr. Oladapo Kazeem, Head of Malaria Case Management, provided data-driven insights into Nigeria’s malaria burden and Kwara State’s progress.

He noted that Nigeria contributes approximately 24% of global malaria deaths, stressing that Kwara State has witnessed a significant reduction in malaria prevalence among children under five—from 26% in 2015 to 6% in 2021.

Dr Oladapo credited the achievement to the state’s investment in robust health interventions, increased access to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), and strengthened health systems.

He said: “By equipping doctors with enhanced clinical competencies, the Kwara State Government reinforces its commitment to reducing mortality from severe malaria and achieving a malaria-free state.”