Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has stated that the task of achieving a viable universal health coverage is not only the responsibility of government alone, instead the collective will of all stakeholders cutting across health professionals, policymakers, civil society organisation, traditional rulers as well as patriotic citizens.
Governor Mutfwang admitted his administration commitment towards ensuring that health remains at the heart of development project.
The governor made this known as he declared open the 11th Plateau State council on health, held on Tuesday at Crispan Hotel, Jos.
The event tagged," Repositioning Plateau State health systems towards achieving the universal health coverage", will last for three days, started from 19th to 21st August, 2025.
Governor Mutfwang emphasize that Universal Health Coverage is not just a goal; it is a solemn promise. "A promise that every resident of Plateau State, regardless of geography, income, or social status will have access to quality, affordable, and timely healthcare services without facing financial hardship."
"Over the last two years, we have made commendable progress. We have expanded and equipped primary healthcare infrastructure, increased enrollment in the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA), improved the availability of essential medicines through the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA), and invested in raising standards of care at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH) as well as hospitals under the Plateau State Hospitals Management Board (PL-HMB).
"We have also strengthened HIV/AIDS testing and services through the Plateau State AIDS Control Agency (PLACA)."
Governor Mutfwang expressed worry that yet, challenges remain. Rural communities are still underserved; the distribution and retention of health workers remain problematic; essential medicines do not always reach the last mile; too many households still pay out-of-pocket for basic services; and our health data systems are fragmented and underutilized.
These realities demand honest reflection and decisive action, hence the importance of this Council.
He said as part of its administration’s resolved to guarantee a healthy citizenry, "we are pursuing a strategic repositioning of our health system. We are revitalizing primary health care centers across all the 17 Local Government Areas (LGA), with a target of ensuring at least one functional, fully staffed, and well-equipped PHC in every electoral ward."
"We have recruited 22 highly skilled medical consultants across critical specialties and six new departments have been introduced for effective service delivery. We have completed and commissioned the long-abandoned laboratory complex, injected ₦2 billion for state-of-the-art equipment, and implemented a robust Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system for efficient patient management", Mutfwang revealed.
The minister of health, Prof. Ali Pate represented by Dr. Omotosho Oyewole described the theme for the 11th Plateau State council on health as timely, nothing that for Nigeria to reposition healthcare system for effective service delivery certain strategic pillars should be taking into consideration. These includes; strengthening primary healthcare, healthcare financing reform, workforce development, digital health innovation as well as public private partnership (PPP).
"The State Council on Health, which brings us together today, provides a vital platform for robust discussions and firm commitments that will steer our health sector toward building an inclusive and resilient system. This will, in turn, accelerate our collective progress toward the realization of Universal Health Coverage", the minister representative added.
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