By Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau
The Tuberculosis Network in Zamfara State has raised concerns over reported shortages of essential malaria commodities, particularly artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), in some primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across the state.
The network said the shortages could affect access to malaria prevention and treatment services, especially for pregnant women, children and other vulnerable groups.
The State Programme Officer (SPO) of the TB Network, Yahaya Muhammad, raised the concerns during an advocacy visit to the Communication and Social Mobilisation Officer of the Zamfara State Ministry of Health.
Muhammad, who led the advocacy team, said the visit was aimed at presenting findings from community-led monitoring activities, seeking clarification from relevant malaria programme officials and advocating prompt intervention to ensure the continuous availability of malaria prevention, diagnostic and treatment commodities.
Presenting the concerns identified by the AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) Networks, Muhammad said reported shortages of malaria commodities in some PHCs could undermine the ability of healthcare facilities to provide timely and effective treatment to patients diagnosed with malaria.
He stressed the importance of maintaining an uninterrupted supply of essential malaria commodities, particularly at the primary healthcare level, where many residents access prevention, diagnosis and treatment services.
The team also called for the timely distribution of ITNs to eligible beneficiaries, particularly pregnant women, children and other vulnerable populations, as part of efforts to strengthen malaria prevention across Zamfara State.
Responding, the Communication and Social Mobilisation Officer of the State Malaria Elimination Programme (ACSMO/SMEP), Muhammad Kabir Auwal, acknowledged shortages of malaria testing kits in some PHCs.
Auwal, however, clarified that information available to the programme did not indicate a general shortage of malaria treatment drugs across the state.
He said the Zamfara State Ministry of Health had recently distributed malaria commodities worth millions of naira to health facilities, adding that the second and third batches would soon be distributed to further strengthen supplies at supported facilities.
According to him, the distribution of ITNs would be guided by established eligibility criteria to ensure that the commodities reach the intended beneficiaries.
Auwal commended the State Advocacy Team (SAT) for its accountability-focused approach and efforts to identify and escalate community-level challenges affecting healthcare service delivery.
Network Seeks Education Ministry’s Support for iCLM Project
In a related development, the State Advocacy Team of the ATM Network, led by the Deputy State Coordinator of the TB Network, Malam Abdullahi Lawal Bungudu, visited the Director of Planning at the Zamfara State Ministry of Education as part of its advocacy activities.
During the visit, Bungudu provided an overview of the Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (iCLM) grant, explaining its objectives, implementation strategy and role in promoting accountability and improving the quality of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria services.
He said the advocacy became necessary following a challenge encountered by one of the implementing Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) during community entry activities in Kaura Local Government Area.
The team consequently sought the ministry’s support in creating greater awareness about the project among community stakeholders, particularly traditional leaders.
Bungudu explained that the ATM Network is a Global Fund-supported Technical Service Organisation implementing the Integrated Community-Led Monitoring Project.
He said the initiative was designed to strengthen community ownership of health facilities, promote accountability in healthcare delivery, identify service gaps and improve access to quality tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria services through active community participation.
The network maintained that stronger collaboration among government agencies, health facilities, traditional institutions and communities would help address service delivery gaps and improve health outcomes across Zamfara State.
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