Civil Society Groups Seek Improved Healthcare In Taraba

The Association of Civil Society Organisations in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN), has embarked on a 2-day advocacy visit to key government health agencies, to address the gaps in health service delivery across communities in Taraba State.

During the visit, the team lead of ACOMIN, Alhaji Mohammed Tanko Danburam, said the advocacy engagement was designed to present community feedback on critical challenges affecting malaria control, maternal health and HIV services in the state.

Alhaji Danburam, noted that the organisation’s findings revealed shortages of essential medical services and commodities in some health facilities, which is forcing patients to seek alternative treatment elsewhere or purchase drugs from private pharmacies at higher costs.

According to him, the advocacy team engaged four key agencies, including the Taraba State Ministry of Health and the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

He said, the team specifically raised concerns about the absence of ultrasound scanning services at Nyaja Primary Health Care Centre, as well as stock outs of malaria treatment commodities in some facilities.

The team lead further identified affected facilities to include the First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Manji Primary Health Care Centre in Gassol local government area and Denden Primary Health Care Centre in Donga local government area.

He also highlighted a shortage of HIV testing kits at Lufu Primary Health Care Centre in Takum local government area.

Danburam, stressed that addressing these gaps was critical to strengthening community health systems and ensuring residents have access to life-saving health interventions.

“We are representing the voices of the communities. The lack of malaria treatment commodities and HIV testing kits compels patients to travel to other facilities or purchase medicines from private pharmacies, thereby increasing costs and delaying timely access to care,” he said.

Responding, the malaria focal person at the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mr Muhammad Mahmud, the coordinator of the Logistics Management Coordinating Unit, Pharm. Ada Frank and the secretary of the Taraba State AIDS Control Agency, Mr Bala Zungyeri, acknowledged the concerns raised by the team.

They assured that the issues highlighted would be investigated and addressed shortly for the overall benefit of the people.