The Kwara State Government has organised a two-day workshop for medical doctors to strengthen efforts to eliminate malaria in the state.

Hosted by the Ministry of Health, the training focused on the theme: "Strengthening Clinical Capacity for Early Detection, Effective Management, and Reduction of Mortality from Severe Malaria."

LEADERSHIP reports that the workshop aimed to enhance the clinical skills of frontline healthcare professionals in combating severe malaria cases. It forms part of the state's broader malaria control strategy, including preparations for the 2025 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) campaign.

The SMC programme will involve door-to-door distribution of preventive antimalarial medicines to children aged 3-59 months in 11 eligible Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Kwara.

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.

Fakayode noted the state government's commitment to malaria elimination and 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 participants for their dedication to the cause of eliminating malaria despite their demanding schedules.

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