Taraba Strengthens Primary Healthcare: 113 Centres Upgraded, 480 Community Health Workers Approved

By Apex Media Network

The Taraba State Government is strengthening primary healthcare delivery through major infrastructure upgrades, workforce expansion and partnerships aimed at improving access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.

The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA), Dr. Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, disclosed this on Thursday in Jalingo during a media briefing on the agency’s achievements, impact and challenges.

Nyigwa said 113 of the state’s 168 primary healthcare centres are being upgraded to Level Two standards, with about 90 already completed. The projects include renovation of clinic buildings, perimeter fencing, 5kVA solar power systems and motorised boreholes.

He also disclosed that 480 Junior Community Health Extension Workers (JCHEWs) have been approved for recruitment, with procedures ongoing for their employment and deployment to communities.

The agency has also employed and deployed 336 emergency medical personnel across various local government areas, while other health professionals, including laboratory and pharmacy technicians, midwives and community nurses, have been integrated into the workforce.

Three facilities—Didan PHC in Kurmi, Tsukundi PHC in Wukari and Lau Township PHC—have been revitalised to Level Two standards with support from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, while the Global Fund is upgrading 13 other centres across the state.

The World Bank-supported IMPACT Project has also provided medical equipment and consumables, while ambulances and motorcycles have been provided to strengthen emergency response and monitoring. Two hundred laptops have also been distributed to improve digital health reporting.

Nyigwa commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his continued support to the agency and acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Government and development partners.

Despite the progress, he identified inadequate counterpart funding, lack of permanent office accommodation and unreliable electricity at the vaccine cold-storage facility as major challenges.

He appealed for improved funding, a permanent office complex and solarisation of the vaccine cold store to sustain healthcare interventions across the state.

Nyigwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare, immunisation, maternal and child health, nutrition and community-based services across Taraba.