CSO advocate improved health service delivery in Taraba
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Association of Civil Society Organizations in Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has conducted a two day advocacy visit to key government health agencies to close the gap in health care service delivery in Taraba State.
The Team Lead, Alhaji Mohammed Tanko Danburam, emphasized during the advocacy in Jalingo that patients are being forced to travel to other facilities or purchase drugs from private pharmacies, increasing costs and delaying access to healthcare.
He explained that the visits is to present community feedback on gaps affecting malaria, maternal health, and HIV prevention services.
According to Danburam, the team engaged four agencies, including the Taraba State Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Development Agency where they said there is absence of ultrasound scanner at Nyaja Primary Health Care Centre and stock-outs of malaria treatment commodities.
He said other health facilities affected include First Referral Hospital Sunkani and Manji PHC in Gassol LGA, and Denden Primary Health Care Centre in Donga LGA.
The team also highlighted shortages of HIV testing kits at Lufu PHC in Takum LGA.
Danburam stressed that addressing these gaps is critical to strengthening community health systems and ensuring residents have access to life-saving interventions.
“We are representing community voices, and the lack of Malaria and HIV compels patients to travel to other facilities or purchase medicines from private pharmacies, thereby increasing costs and delaying timely access to care,” he said.
Mr. Muhammad Mahmud, the Malaria focal person at the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Pharm. Ada Frank, and Mr. Bala Zungyeri Coordinator, Logistics Management Coordinating Unit and Secretary, Taraba State AIDS Control Agency, respectively, pledged to respond to further investigate the issues and act accordingly.
