The Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project has called on community leaders and stakeholders to actively engage in improving health outcomes across Plateau State. The call was made during a high-level stakeholder engagement meeting held on Thursday, 4th December 2025, at Villa Grande Hotel, Jos.
The meeting brought together Directors of Primary Health Care (DPHCs), Monitoring and Evaluation Officers (M&Es), Officers in Charge (OICs), Ward Development Committee (WDC) chairpersons, and Medical Record Officers (MROs) from IMPACT-supported facilities across the state. Discussions focused on reviewing progress, identifying gaps, and strengthening interventions to boost maternal, newborn, and child health services.
IMPACT Program and Project Manager in Plateau State, Nurse Ndak Kizito Zuhumnan, emphasized the importance of community involvement in driving health improvements.
“We are here to examine what is happening with children under five—whether they receive timely treatment for fever, whether pregnant women attend antenatal clinics, and why some still give birth at home,” he said.
He expressed concern over low antenatal attendance, poor hospital delivery rates, and delays in taking newborns for immunization. Kizito highlighted the role of WDCs in mobilizing communities through churches, mosques, and local meetings to encourage utilization of Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs).
“Our goal is to reduce infant and maternal mortality on the Plateau to the barest minimum. These stakeholders are key to helping us achieve that,” he added.
Chairman of the WDC in Jos Jarawa PHC, John Ajang Izang, commended the IMPACT project for improving facilities and services.
“We have seen significant changes—from renovation of facilities to provision of affordable, high-quality medications and solar-powered infrastructure,” he said.
“Even the baby packs provided by the governor for new mothers have made delivery at PHCs free of charge and very attractive.”
Izang also noted that the drug revolving scheme under IMPACT ensures a consistent supply of quality drugs without complaints of high prices.
Director of Primary Healthcare in Barkin Ladi LGA, Linda Chuwang, welcomed the engagement, especially for PHCs still undergoing upgrades.
“Some facilities in my LGA are not yet revitalized. We are glad to raise this here so that work can be hastened,” she said.
“A clean and attractive facility encourages mothers to seek antenatal and delivery services, which helps reduce maternal mortality.”
She added that IMPACT funding has supported the hiring of additional health workers, enabling some PHCs to operate 24-hour services.
Director of Primary Healthcare in Riyom LGA, Helen Damo, stressed the need for strong data reporting systems to track progress and inform decisions.
“WDCs have a huge responsibility. They must sensitize traditional rulers and mobilize communities to improve coverage in maternal and child health services,” she said.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the IMPACT Project in Plateau State, Benjamin Daniel Shankom, highlighted the WDCs’ critical role as links to grassroots communities.
“We are implementing the project in 207 health facilities across the state,” he explained.
“With the information they have received here, WDC members will mobilize community members to patronize the facilities and access the services available.”
Other participants, including Chief Benaya Obiaboso from Jenta Apata and Choji Nyam from Township PHC, acknowledged the progress made so far and urged for additional staffing to meet increasing demand.
The engagement concluded with a strong commitment from all stakeholders to collaborate closely in mobilizing communities and ensuring maximum utilization of PHC services, aiming to improve health outcomes across Plateau State.
