In a bit to reinvigorate the health sector for effective service delivery, the Plateau State government said it has concluded plans to engage over Four thousand (4,000) staff across the Seventeen Local Government Areas of the state. 
This according to the state government was to allow the Barr. Caleb Mutfwang government to alleviate the challenges faced by the citizens of the state in accessing quality healthcare service delivery at affordable rate while also reducing the burden on the staff of the Public Health Institutions due to low manpower.
This disclosure was made in Jos, the Plateau State capital by the Commissioner of Health, Hon. Cletus Shurkuk at a GF/NACAC19RM Project Media Roundtable Meeting.
Represented by the Director, Public Health of the Ministry, Dr. Mafwalal Masok, said that “this gigantic step of the government of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang would go a long way in alleviating the hardship of the people because it would also greatly support the Global Fund supported Programme in the State which is now in its second phase”.
The one-day roundtable was organised by the Civil Society for Eradication of Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
Earlier in his opening address, State Programme Officer (SPO), Mr. Peter Ezekiel stated that “the GF/NACAC19RM Project being implemented by TB Network in Plateau State is strategically planned to mentor community members on issue-based advocacy and engage all community stakeholders in order to deliberate on the state of government health facilities with a view to mobilizing resources to address their peculiar challenges”.
Ezekiel added that “the project is to also strengthen health system and improve service uptake around HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria. And at the community levels, the project has a goal of addressing Gender Based Violence GBV/GHR issues to promote safe communities and ensure equity in health services, as well as, inspire communities to speak up when their rights are violated” for them to seek redress.
“The GFGC7 of the Covid-19 Response Mechanism Project which commenced in April 2024 in Plateau State is currently being implemented in 5 LGAs of Plateau State with 15 Community Based Organisation (CBOs). The LGAs include Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Pankshin, Mikang and Shendam. With support from the state government and community members/gatekeepers, the CBOs utilized the community-led Monitoring approach in recording numerous achievements within the short period”.
“Similarly, the project presently working in 105 LGAs and 315 wards of the country is aimed at building resilience mechanism on health issues in the communities of Nigeria arising from the experience of the Covid19 pandemic which exposed with utter dismay the gaps and challenges of the Public Health institutions which includes insufficient drug circulation, poor staffing, dilapidated buildings, apathy and nonchalant attitude of community people to the institutions. As a result of which there were avoidable deaths and needless suffering experienced by the people”.
“However, the target areas of coverage under this programme are the three prevalent disease of HIV and AIDs, Tuberculosis and Malaria codenamed ATM disease areas. Therefore, the project is being implemented by the Civil Society in partnership with other arms of government with the National AIDs Control Agency (NACA) as the Principal Recipient (PR) from the Global Fund and subletting it to relevant CSOs as umbrella bodies”, the State Programme Officer said.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Director of Plateau AIDs Control Agency (PLACA), Mrs. Esther Turaki who was represented by Ms. Joy Inuwa said management of the agency are really happy with the grant management because the feedback coming in from the project sites was inspiring PLACA to do even more.
Investigations revealed that in less than two months of its commencement, the project has recorded remarkable achievements in enhancing effective record-keeping and management systems in some of the health facilities in the LGAs of operation, addressing stigma and discrimination among health care service providers, increased the uptake of services at some of the facilities thereby encouraging community owners of the government –owned community health facilities and bridged the communication gaps between facilities management and the community stakeholders thereby promoting accountability and efficient service delivery across the PHCs in the state through Focused Group Discussions, Clients Exit Interviews, Key Informant Interviews and Issue-based Advocacies, amongst others.
