By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
Civil society groups in Taraba are asking the state government to urgently address shortages of malaria drugs and weaknesses in HIV services at primary health centres.
Members of the Association of Civil Society Organisations in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition, ACOMIN, met with officials of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Taraba State AIDS Control Agency to share what they found during visits to health facilities across the state.
ACOMIN State Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Tanko Danburam, said the visits showed clear problems with drug supply.
He said the MDG Clinic in Galea, Kurmi LGA, currently has no malaria commodities. Sabon-Gida Akwewem Primary Health Centre has run out of artemisinin-based combination therapies, ACTs. At Tati PHC in Takum LGA, insecticide-treated nets have not been available since 2022.
On HIV, Danburam said Bakin-Dutse MDG Clinic in Ardo-Kola LGA does not provide HIV screening during antenatal care. The group also raised concerns about services at Wuro Cheudo and Tati PHCs in Takum, and at Lanko and Wuro Yolde PHCs in Yorro and Ardo-Kola LGAs.
“We are not just listing problems,” Danburam said. “We collect information from communities, take it to those in charge, and keep following up until we see changes. Communities are also doing what they can to help.”
He said the issues were taken to state officials after local and LGA efforts failed to resolve them.
Responding, Mr Mahmud Mohammed of TSPHCDA and Mr Tsojon Paul of TACA acknowledged the concerns. Both said they would pass the issues to the relevant programmes for action.
ACOMIN said it will continue monitoring facilities in Taraba to push for steady supply of essential drugs and better health services.
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