The Plateau State Ministry of Health on Monday held a press conference to brief stakeholders and the public ahead of the 11th State Council on Health, scheduled to take place from Tuesday, 19th to Thursday, 21st August 2025 at Crispan Hotel, Jos.
Speaking at the briefing, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, said the council would serve as a high-level platform to review progress, share experiences, address challenges, and adopt actionable strategies for transforming healthcare delivery across the state.
According to him, the council’s theme, “Repositioning Plateau State Health Systems Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage,” reflects government’s commitment under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to ensure that every citizen has access to affordable and quality healthcare, regardless of location or status.
“The need to strengthen our healthcare system has never been more urgent or more relevant,” Dr. Baamlong said. “This year’s council will focus on building resilient and inclusive health systems, improving access to essential medicines, and enhancing maternal and neonatal outcomes, particularly in rural areas.”
The commissioner noted that discussions will explore sustainable strategies for ensuring the availability and rational use of medicines, as well as deliberate steps to reduce preventable maternal and child deaths by strengthening primary healthcare delivery.
During the question-and-answer session, Dr. Baamlong acknowledged gaps in the state’s primary healthcare system, but assured that the council would address issues such as inadequate equipment, shortage of skilled personnel, and weak monitoring mechanisms.
He also explained that budgeting for the health sector is being realigned to address lapses from previous years, especially cases where reliance on donor funding left facilities stranded once support ended.
The press briefing was attended by senior officials including the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Josiah Kerlin-Batros; Chairman of the Contact and Publicity Committee, Dr. Daniel Mesha; Chief Medical Directors of Plateau Specialist Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital; representatives of development partners, and the Federal Ministry of Health.
In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary emphasized that the state is determined to strengthen primary healthcare.
“From the questions and discussions, it is clear that our major focus this time is improving primary health care. We want to not only identify the issues but also find implementable solutions, and the media has a vital role to play in this process,” Mr. Kerlin-Batros stated.
The council, which will feature technical presentations, breakout sessions, policy dialogues, and the drafting of a communiqué, is expected to shape the trajectory of healthcare delivery in Plateau State for years to come.
