By Blessing Odega
The Plateau Government has intensified efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, and other key stakeholders in the health sector.
The Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, made the call on Thursday in Jos during a symposium to commemorate the 2026 World Health Day.
Baamlong emphasised the need to align resources, policies, and interventions to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare services across the state.
He said the ministry adopted the sub-theme “Harnessing Government and Development Partners’ Efforts in Achieving Universal Health Coverage on the Plateau,” which reflected the realities of the state’s health sector.
The commissioner said that the government had made measurable progress in expanding primary healthcare services through the employment of more than 1,200 health professionals.
He underscored the importance of partnerships, saying collaboration among government institutions and development partners would help scale up programmes, reduced duplication, and improved efficient use of limited resources.
Similarly, Dr Magaji Izang, State Coordinator of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in a keynote address, emphasised the need to strengthen the state health insurance scheme to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending.
Izang said expanding enrolment, especially among vulnerable groups, remained a key priority for achieving equitable healthcare access.
He also called for improved digital data systems to support evidence-based planning, monitoring, and evaluation of health interventions across the state.
According to him, sustainable healthcare delivery requires strong grassroots participation to build trust and increase uptake of health services in communities.
Izang highlighted challenges including inadequate healthcare financing, workforce shortages, poor remuneration, brain drain, weak referral systems, and limited access in hard-to-reach areas.
He further called for increased domestic funding for health, stronger primary healthcare systems, improved workforce capacity, and better data-driven planning and coordination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2026 World Health Day theme is “Together for Health, Stand with Science.”
The event was attended by key stakeholders, including the Chief Medical Director of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Pokop Bupwatda.
Also in attendance was the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency, Mr Kim Bot.
Others present were the World Health Organization State Coordinator, Dr Musa Wade, alongside other health sector partners and officials.(NAN)(http://www.nannews.ng)