By Apex Media Network
Stakeholders in Taraba State's health sector have adopted far-reaching resolutions aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes at the end of the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) organised by the Taraba State Ministry of Health in Jalingo.
The two-day review, held from July 30 to 31 at Camp View Event Centre under the theme, "Planning Better for a Healthy Taraba," brought together representatives of the Taraba State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, health agencies, Local Government Authorities, development partners, civil society organisations, professional associations, traditional and religious institutions, and the media.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP), assessed progress in the health sector, identified implementation gaps and agreed on strategic actions to improve healthcare delivery across the state.
Declaring the review open on behalf of the Taraba State Government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Gbansheya Buma, said a healthy population remains the foundation of sustainable development and economic prosperity.
"A healthy nation is a prosperous nation. No matter how economically vibrant a country may be, if its people are not in good health, sustainable growth and prosperity will remain elusive. Effective planning begins when stakeholders come together to honestly assess where progress has been made and where improvements are needed," he said.
During the technical sessions, the Permanent Secretary, Taraba State Ministry of Health, Dr. Chufor Harmony, highlighted the ministry's commitment to strengthening the health system through effective planning, coordination and accountability. He called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to improve service delivery across the state.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adedeji Adeshope reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to supporting health sector reforms and encouraged Taraba State to sustain the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in coordinating government and partner interventions for greater impact.
The SWAp Desk Officer, Pharmacist Reuben Nwunuji, stressed the importance of integrated planning, efficient resource utilisation and stronger accountability mechanisms, noting that collaboration among government and development partners remains critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Also speaking, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Martins Jirgi, commended the progress recorded in the state's health sector while urging stakeholders to strengthen disease surveillance, improve data quality and sustain community-based health interventions.
The review noted progress in governance, coordination among stakeholders, routine immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, disease surveillance, primary healthcare revitalisation and digital health systems. However, participants observed that funding constraints, shortages of health workers, staff attrition, data management challenges and limited community participation continue to affect service delivery in some parts of the state.
The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA), Dr. Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, expressed concern over the current level of health sector performance and called on the government to increase funding for the health sector to improve healthcare services across the state.
He also urged communities to make proper use of health commodities and preventive items distributed to them, noting that some beneficiaries misuse such interventions instead of using them for their intended purpose. Dr. Nyigwa appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to intensify public enlightenment and encourage residents to embrace government health programmes. He expressed optimism that the next Joint Annual Review would record better results through stronger collaboration, increased funding and improved utilisation of health interventions.
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State Chapter, Hon. Moses Maihankali, underscored the importance of community mobilisation, saying sustained public enlightenment is essential to the success of government health programmes, particularly in rural communities.
He noted that the Joint Annual Review provided stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate achievements, identify challenges and develop practical strategies for improving healthcare delivery across the state.
The Chief Administrative Officer of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Taraba State, Mrs. Elizabeth Joshua, described the review as significant because of its focus on women and children. She said NCWS would continue to mobilise women at the grassroots using the key messages from the review to promote immunisation, maternal healthcare and other essential health services.
At the end of the two-day meeting, stakeholders adopted a communiqué containing key resolutions, including strengthening the implementation of the Taraba State Health Sector Strategic Blueprint, increasing domestic financing for healthcare, expanding access to quality primary healthcare services, improving the availability of essential medicines and vaccines, strengthening health information systems, enhancing disease surveillance and emergency preparedness, promoting community participation through Ward Development Committees, traditional and religious leaders, and using agreed priority interventions in the development of the 2027 Annual Operational Plan.
The communiqué also called for increased enrolment in the Taraba State Health Insurance Scheme, intensified efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality, strengthened malaria prevention and control, improved supply of health registers to facilities, and the revival of the Maternal and Perinatal Child Death Survillance and Response (MPCDSR) programme through adequate funding.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration among government, development partners and communities to ensure the effective implementation of the resolutions adopted during the review.
The meeting concluded with a renewed determination to translate the agreed resolutions into concrete actions that will strengthen the health system, improve service delivery and deliver better health outcomes for the people of Taraba State.
