The suspension, which takes immediate effect, halts all field operations, drug distribution and community mobilisation under the programme pending the outcome of the investigation. The government also announced the immediate suspension of the Programme Manager, with administrative responsibility temporarily handed over to the most senior officer in the programme. The decision was contained in a directive issued by the Kano State Ministry of Health on Thursday. AdvertisementThe Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention programme is one of Nigeria’s flagship malaria prevention interventions, targeting children under five with preventive antimalarial medicines during the peak malaria transmission season. Kano is among the states with the highest malaria burden in the country and has consistently implemented the programme with support from development partners.