Zamfara declares support for monitoring TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria services

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara State Government, through the Hospital Services Management Board (HSMB), has expressed its readiness to strengthen collaboration with the ATM Network and support the implementation of the integrated Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) project to improve Tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and Malaria service delivery across the state.
The commitment was conveyed by the Director of Human Resources at the HSMB, Jamilu Bala, while receiving the State Advocacy Team (SAT)—comprising ATM Coordinators and the State Program Officer—during an advocacy visit to the Board’s headquarters.
Bala stated that the state government deeply values the contributions of development partners and civil society organizations toward improving healthcare delivery.
He emphasized that the Board, which oversees general hospitals and tertiary institutions across Zamfara State, fully approves of community-led monitoring interventions to boost public health services.
Speaking earlier, the State Program Officer for TB and HIV/AIDS, Yahaya Muhammad, introduced the integrated CLM project and outlined its role in enhancing community participation, accountability, accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare services.
Muhammad explained that the CLM project, which commenced in late 2025, is currently active across Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Local Government Areas.
He noted that the initiative relies on community monitoring and stakeholder engagement to identify operational gaps and facilitate constructive dialogue with health authorities for immediate resolution.
Addressing operational hurdles, the Advocacy Team requested official authorization letters from the HSMB to grant CLM team members and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) unfettered access to secondary health facilities without administrative delays.
Key discussions also focused on strengthening ties with state health structures, involving Ward Development Committees (WDCs) for long-term sustainability, and adopting standardized national data tools for accurate reporting.
Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mustapha Bala, commended the intervention, noting that engaging WDCs ensures community ownership beyond project timelines.
Similarly, the Director of Health Information Management, Tukur B. Abubakar, highlighted the need for an enabling environment for health partners, urging security agencies to address regional safety concerns so field teams can operate safely.