Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The fight against infant mortality has received a major boost following the discovery that azithromycin has proved efficacious in reducing infant childhood deaths.
This was the outcome of the Safety and Anti-microbial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin, SARMAAN, phase one pilot project which formally ended nationwide.
Abia State representing the South-East zone, was selected as one of the six pilot states in the country for the project.
The two-year pilot project was conducted in 332 communities in Umunneochi Local Government Area.
SARMAAN project is a research study examining the efficacy of azithromycin syrup in reducing child mortality in low- and middle-income countries.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the health sector including the World Health Organization, WHO; Federal Ministry of Health, FMoH; the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research; have expressed satisfaction over the proven efficacy of azithromycin in reducing infant childhood deaths.
The stakeholders who spoke at the winding down ceremony of SARMAAN pilot project in Abia State, described the development as a milestone in the fight against infant mortality.
The project, which is in its pilot phase was implemented from 2022 to 2024 across 52 Local Governments in six states, namely Umunneochi LG in Abia, Ikono LG, Akwa Ibom, Kura LG, Kano, Wamakko LG, Sokoto, and all LGs in Kebbi and Jigawa.
With funding by the Gates Foundation, the pilot project was executed through partnership involving government agencies and non-governmental organisations.
These include the Department of Family Health in the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Sightsavers which spearheaded the implementation, e-Health Africa, Corona Management Systems, Speak Up Africa, among others.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Commissioner for Health, Abia State, Professor Enoch Uche, said the syrup was administered to a total of 40,135 infants aged between one month and 11 months.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Blossom Umah Kalu, said the project recorded huge success in Abia.
He said it demonstrated that “the administration of Azithromycin did not lead to increased levels of antimicrobial resistance – a finding of critical importance for global health.”
In a remark, Deputy Director, Child Survival, FMoH, Dr Oluseyi Omokore, expressed satisfaction over the results recorded in the project.
He also commended Abia State Government for its numerous interventions in the health sector.
Speaking also, the Country Director, Sightsavers, Professor Joy Shu’aibu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Trachoma, SARMAAN and Co-investigator, Dr Teyil Wamyil-Mshelia, expressed delight over the outcome of the SARMAAN project in Abia.
She noted that the implementation of the SARMAAN has proven that mass administration of azithromycin did not lead to high levels of antimicrobial resistance and proven to have good safety profile.
The Country Director called on partners, and Governments at all levels to ensure the availability of azithromycin for every child so as to sustain the gains recorded during the pilot project.
She commended Abia for having a strong health delivery system and structure, where interventions can effectively be implemented.
In a presentation, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research represented by Dr Ugochukwu Onyeonoro, said that laboratory analysis by the NIMR, proved that the administration of azithromycin did not result in increased level of antimicrobial resistance.
He described the efficacy of the medicine as a milestone in the efforts towards reducing infant mortality.
In a remark, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Kalu Ulu Kalu, said the agency was fully committed to the fight against infant mortality.
“The lessons learned and the successes achieved through the SARMAAN project would inform the ongoing efforts to improve child health in Abia State and beyond.
“We are committed to building on this foundation, scaling up effective interventions, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive and thrive,” Kalu added
In a remark, the Mayor of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Chief Sunday Afurobi, thanked the partners for the choice of Umunneochi for the pilot project.
Stakeholders in the health sector including health workers, traditional rulers and nursing mothers were at the ceremony.
