SARMAAN Project Reaches 15.76 Million Children, Boosts Child Survival Efforts in Nigeria

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

As the world marks World Health Day 2026, the SARMAAN Project has reaffirmed its commitment to improving child survival in Nigeria, reaching a major milestone in its nationwide interventions.

Since 2024, the project has reached 15.76 million children aged 1–59 months across ten northern states, administering over 26 million doses of azithromycin to prevent common childhood illnesses.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, more than 7.2 million children were treated through Mass Drug Administration campaigns in Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Kaduna States.

Beyond delivering life-saving treatments, SARMAAN emphasizes community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and effective communication to ensure long-term impact and local acceptance.

Speaking on the achievement, Principal Investigator Oliver Ezechi noted that the milestone demonstrates the power of combining global health priorities with local action, adding that each child reached represents a step toward reducing preventable deaths.

On his part, the Project Lead Ikechukwu Ofuani highlighted the importance of sustainability, stressing the need for increased government ownership and integration of the initiative into national health systems to ensure lasting success.

He said, part of the REACH Network, the SARMAAN Project continues to showcase how strategic partnerships and community-driven approaches can strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for children.