News

Plateau Reviews Health Sector Reforms To Improve Service Delivery

Published

4 months ago

May 12, 2026

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By Blessing Odega

The Plateau Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the health sector and improving service delivery through the continuous implementation of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) in healthcare financing, coordination and governance.

Dr Nicholas Baamlong, the state Commissioner for Health, stated this on Tuesday during the state’s SWAp first quarter performance dialogue review meeting in Jos.

Baamlong said the review meeting brought together government officials, development partners, healthcare managers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to assess progress made in implementing the initiative across the state’s health sector.

According to him, the dialogue is also aimed at identifying gaps, addressing emerging challenges and developing strategies to improve coordination, accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery across the state.

“The review engagement is aimed at evaluating achievements, identifying gaps, and developing strategies to improve coordination, accountability, and efficiency in healthcare delivery.

“It is also an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the level of implementation of agreed priorities and collectively chart a way forward for improved health outcomes in Plateau,” he said.

The commissioner explained that SWAp was a framework designed to align government priorities, donor interventions and stakeholder activities under a unified health sector plan to ensure better outcomes and optimal use of available resources.

He noted that the approach was critical to reducing duplication of programmes, strengthening transparency and ensuring that investments in the health sector directly benefited residents of the state.

Baamlong further stressed the importance of collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies, healthcare providers and development partners in achieving sustainable reforms and expanding access to quality healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations.

He said the state government remained committed to improving primary healthcare services, enhancing disease surveillance, strengthening healthcare infrastructure and building the capacity of health workers across the state.

According to him, effective implementation of SWAp principles will also support evidence-based planning, improved monitoring and evaluation, and efficient allocation of resources within the health sector.

Also speaking, Dr Opeyemi Fadeyibi, Monitoring and Evaluation Performance Management Lead at the National SWAp Office, commended Plateau for being among the states implementing SWAp principles effectively.

Fadeyibi described the review process as essential for measuring progress, promoting accountability and ensuring that healthcare interventions were aligned with national priorities and the needs of citizens.

She expressed optimism that sustained implementation of SWAp principles would help Plateau strengthen its health system, address existing challenges and improve healthcare access and service delivery for residents.

According to her, stronger collaboration between governments and development partners is necessary to achieve universal health coverage and build resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to emerging public health challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the review meeting forms part of ongoing efforts by the state government to align with national health sector reforms and deliver more effective, inclusive and people-centred healthcare services across Plateau. (NAN)

Edited by Gabriel Yough

Related Topics:Delivery health Improve plateau Reforms Reviews Sector service

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2027: ‘We’re ready for anything’ — ADC warns APC

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22 minutes ago

September 13, 2026

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The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, has expressed confidence that the party will defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 general elections if the polls are free and fair or not.

Abdullahi stated this during an interview on Symfoni TV while responding to questions on whether the ADC would be able to defeat the ruling APC in the 2027 election.

He said the party had no doubt that it would win a free and fair election, but expressed concerns over the possibility of electoral manipulation.

“In a free and fair election, we have no doubt in our minds that we will win this election. The challenge is, will there be a free and fair election?

Health

10,494 Nigerians in UK health sector as country battles health worker shortage

Published

30 minutes ago

September 13, 2026

Preport

A total of 10,494 Nigerians are listed among staff in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), according to data shared by NHS Million, a UK campaign organisation focused on NHS staff.

Nigeria ranked sixth overall on the list, behind the UK/British, India, the Philippines, Ireland and Poland, making Nigeria the largest African nationality represented in the breakdown.

The data shared by NHS Million showed that more than 1.1 million NHS workers identified as British or UK nationals, while Indians accounted for 32,117 staff and Filipinos 25,423.

It also showed that Zimbabwe had the second-highest number of African nationals working in the NHS, with 4,780, followed by Ghana with 3,395, Egypt with 2,895 and South Africa with 1,829.

The figures highlight the significant contribution of Nigerian professionals to the UK health system, but also come amid persistent concerns over the shortage of health workers in the country.

Nigeria loses thousands of health workers

The 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, showed that over 20,000 Nigerian health workers relocated abroad within one year.

The figure included 3,919 doctors, 7,487 nurses and midwives, 6,861 medical laboratory professionals, 702 pharmacists, 658 physiotherapists and 274 dentists, among other health professionals. The report also showed that Nigeria has 95,456 registered doctors, but only 60,551 currently hold active practising licences.

The workforce shortage is further worsened by the uneven distribution of health professionals across the country, with several northern states recording particularly low doctor densities.

UK remains major destination

The United Kingdom is one of the major destinations for Nigerian health professionals.

Data from the UK’s General Medical Council showed that 4,691 Nigerian-trained doctors joined the UK medical register between May 2023 and April 2026, according to a Punch report.

The data also showed that 15,896 Nigerian-trained doctors were licensed to practise in the UK.

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The 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report identified external migration as one of the factors affecting the availability of health professionals in Nigeria.

Migration policy yet to be fully implemented

The federal government has introduced several measures aimed at increasing the health workforce and addressing migration.

Nigeria also approved a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration in August 2024, aimed at managing health worker migration, improving retention and strengthening workforce planning.

However, the 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report said that although the implementation plan had been finalised, full implementation had not commenced.

The report said an additional 23,000 frontline health workers were trained in 2025, bringing the number trained between 2024 and 2025 to 78,146, or about 65 per cent of the national target of 120,000.

The policy is intended to improve working conditions, support career progression and establish a more coordinated approach to health worker migration and retention.