The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation highlighted significant challenges to Nigeria’s flagship REACH program aimed at reducing child mortality, citing concerns about slow drug clearance and antimicrobial resistance.
Uche Amaonwu, Interim Director of the Foundation’s Nigeria Country Office, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2024 REACH Network Annual Regional Conference held in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria.
The REACH initiative, Childhood Azithromycin Resilience, is a large-scale public health intervention across sub-Saharan Africa that aims to reduce infant and under-five mortality in high-risk areas by administering twice-yearly azithromycin Utilizes administration.
But the foundation said logistical bottlenecks could hamper the program’s effectiveness.
“Logistic challenges such as drug procurement and customs delays have presented obstacles along the way. But each challenge has also been an opportunity to innovate and improve. During the program, we removed donated azithromycin. We thank the Coordinating Minister for prioritizing securing the necessary approvals for this,” Mr Amaonwu said.
He called on Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Human Services, Muhammad Pate, to expedite the necessary approvals to clear the shipment of donated azithromycin.
In addition to the logistical setbacks, the Gates Foundation highlighted the critical need for continued monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
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As the use of azithromycin expands, concerns are arising about potential resistance that could undermine the long-term benefits of mass drug administration (MDA).
“AMR surveillance is integrated into the SARMAAN project and remains a top priority,” Amaonwu said, referring to work on high-dose azithromycin safety and antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria, which will help improve life-saving interventions and public safety. It said the aim was to balance the sanitary risks.
Achievements in challenges
Despite these challenges, the REACH program has made significant progress, he said.
Since its founding, Nigeria has administered more than 1.3 million doses of azithromycin to children aged 1 to 11 months in six states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto, achieving a 97 percent vaccination rate. .
This success, he said, highlights the feasibility of large-scale MDA efforts in Nigeria’s complex health landscape. Amaonwu said this achievement is a result of local partnerships and efforts to eradicate polio and reduce seasonal It acknowledged that this was due to integration with existing health programs such as malaria chemoprevention.
He said the second phase of the program, ‘Salman II’, which began in April, had reached nearly 1.2 million children in additional states such as Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna and Katsina.
The project is scheduled to run until 2027 and will further strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to reduce child mortality.
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Mr Amaonwu stressed the need for continued cooperation and government support to maintain momentum.
“We have made meaningful progress, but it is of paramount importance that we continue these efforts,” he said, urging Nigerian health authorities to prioritize the prompt removal of donated medicines and eliminate potential They called for further AMR research to address the threat of resistance.
As sub-Saharan Africa continues to face high child mortality rates, the Gates Foundation reiterates its commitment to the REACH initiative to overcome challenges and ensure every child has a chance to live a healthy life. He called on all concerned parties to cooperate.
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