By Kazeem Waris
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has approved the recruitment of 1,300 healthcare workers to address manpower shortages and improve access to quality healthcare across the state.
The governor, who spoke through his deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Jos at the opening of the 12th Plateau State Council on Health Meeting.
He said the recruitment was part of his administration’s efforts to consolidate gains in the health sector and ensure that healthcare facilities were adequately staffed to meet the needs of residents.
“As part of efforts to address manpower shortages in the health sector, our administration has approved the recruitment of 1,300 healthcare workers across the state’s health sector,” Mutfwang said.
He added that the government was committed to ensuring that every federal and state ward had a functional, adequately staffed and properly equipped primary healthcare facility capable of providing essential services.
The governor disclosed that the state had revitalised 105 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), while two facilities had been upgraded to cottage hospitals to expand access to affordable healthcare.
“These achievements reflect our determination to build a healthcare system that responds effectively to the needs of our citizens, regardless of their location or economic circumstances,” he said.
Mutfwang also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding health insurance coverage, particularly for indigent and vulnerable residents who might struggle to pay for medical services.
“Financial constraints should not prevent anyone from accessing necessary medical care,” he said, adding that the government would continue strengthening healthcare delivery as part of its drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, said the revitalisation of the 105 PHCs and the upgrading of the two facilities followed resolutions reached at the 11th State Council on Health Meeting in 2025.
He said the government was also implementing reforms across secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities to improve service delivery.
According to him, the interventions include upgrading medical equipment, digitalising medical records and strengthening emergency response systems to make healthcare services more efficient.
Ba’amlong further disclosed that the Plateau State Specialist Hospital was being upgraded to serve as a teaching hospital for the College of Health Sciences of Plateau State University.
He said the initiative would strengthen the relationship between healthcare delivery and medical education, helping to develop skilled health professionals, improve clinical services and build a sustainable healthcare system.
The commissioner urged stakeholders to ensure that decisions reached at the council meeting translated into practical policies and measurable improvements in healthcare delivery.
“Resolutions reached at the State Council on Health Meeting must translate into practical policies, realistic budgets and measurable reforms that improve the health and well-being of citizens,” he said.
