ACOMIN Advocates Improved Malaria Awareness, PHC Upgrades in Taraba

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The State Advocacy Team (SAT) of the Association of Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) in Taraba State has intensified efforts to improve awareness of malaria services and address infrastructural deficiencies in primary healthcare centres across the state.

The advocacy campaign, conducted on May 11, 2026, was carried out under the Community Component of the Global Fund Grant for Malaria and targeted communities where inadequate awareness and poor healthcare facilities continue to hinder access to free malaria interventions.

Speaking during a meeting with officials of the Taraba State Ministry of Health, the ACOMIN State Chairman, Alhaji Muh’d Tanko Danburam, expressed concern over poor sensitization on free malaria services supported by the Global Fund.

Danburam said the advocacy visit covered several health facilities, including Mbiya PHC, Gidan Isa PHC, Mayolope PHCC, Tudun Beekhan PHC and Benbal Health Post.
According to him, low public awareness has significantly affected the uptake of malaria services among vulnerable residents.

“Poor awareness of free malaria services contributes to low service uptake and prevents vulnerable community members from benefiting from available Global Fund-supported interventions,” he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of GMCN RHP, Mr. Godfrey Jarama Filiya, warned that inadequate sensitization could encourage commodity leakages and force citizens to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services that are meant to be free.

Similarly, Alhaji Mustapha Yahaya Umar of the Yelwa Progressive and Cooperative Union called for urgent measures to expand community awareness in order to reduce malaria prevalence and related deaths in the state.

Responding, the State Health Educator and Promotion Officer, Mr. Dahiru Zakari, assured the team that Local Government Health Educators and the “Mama to Mama” structures would be mobilized to intensify sensitization campaigns across communities.

Zakari also pledged to escalate the concerns raised to the Director of Public Health and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency for further action.

In a separate engagement, the advocacy team met with officials of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency over the deteriorating condition of Laiden Jessi PHC and Mayo Kam PHC, urging immediate renovation of the facilities to improve service delivery.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Tukura Nuhu Nyigwa, acknowledged the challenges facing the facilities and disclosed that efforts were ongoing to mobilize support for their rehabilitation.

He revealed plans to engage the Community and Social Development Agency to explore possible interventions for the upgrade of the affected health centres.