In a renewed effort to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) delivery and improve maternal and child health outcomes, the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project on Thursday, December 4, 2025, convened a high-level stakeholder engagement meeting in Jos.
The meeting, held at Villa Grande Hotel, 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 Plateau State.
IMPACT Program and Project Manager, Nurse Ndak Kizito Zuhumnan, said the session was aimed at reviewing key health indices, identifying gaps, and strengthening interventions. He expressed concerns about low antenatal attendance, poor hospital delivery rates, and delays in newborn immunization uptake.
“We are here to examine what is happening with children under five and pregnant women—why some still deliver at home and why babies are not being brought early for immunization,” Kizito stated.
He reaffirmed that essential medical supplies including delivery kits, malaria testing kits, ACTs, and IPT3 are available free of charge in PHCs, stressing the vital role of WDCs in community mobilization through churches, mosques, and local meetings.
WDC Chairman of Jos Jarawa PHC, John Ajang Izang, praised the project’s impact, citing facility renovations, solar-powered systems, improved drug availability, and the governor’s baby packs which have made PHC deliveries free and more attractive.
“The drug revolving scheme has ensured steady access to affordable, high-quality medications,” he added.
Director of Primary Healthcare, Barkin Ladi LGA, Linda Chuwang, described the engagement as timely, noting that some facilities still await completion of upgrades. She emphasized that clean, revitalized centers encourage more women to seek antenatal and delivery services. She also highlighted how IMPACT funding has enabled additional staffing to support 24-hour PHC operations.
Her counterpart in Riyom LGA, Helen Damo, stressed the need for stronger data reporting systems to improve the reliability of state health indicators. She urged WDCs to intensify sensitization efforts among community and traditional leaders.
IMPACT Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Benjamin Daniel Shankom, said WDCs remain the backbone of community engagement.
“We are implementing the project in 207 health facilities. With the insights shared here, WDC members will mobilize more community members to patronize PHCs and access available services,” he noted.
Other stakeholders, including Chief Benaya Obiaboso of Jenta Apata and Choji Nyam of Township PHC, commended the visible improvements in PHCs but called for more staff to meet rising service demand.
The meeting reinforced the collective commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality across Plateau State through strengthened PHC systems, community involvement, and sustained support from the IMPACT project.
