Health
Plateau State Hosts Regional Training to Strengthen Malaria Diagnosis Across Nigeria
In a significant boost to Nigeria’s malaria elimination efforts, Plateau State has launched a three-day regional training programme to enhance the diagnostic capacity of laboratory scientists in selected states.
Organized by the REACH Malaria Project in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) and the Plateau State Ministry of Health—through the State Malaria Elimination Program (SMEP)—the training is being hosted at the newly upgraded Plateau State Specialist Hospital Laboratory. The facility was recently built and equipped under Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s “The Time Is Now” administration.
Building a Culture of Quality in Malaria Diagnosis
Under the theme *”Supporting a Culture of Quality,”* the programme brings together laboratory scientists from Plateau, Benue, and Kebbi States. Participants are receiving advanced training in microscopic malaria diagnosis—a critical skill for ensuring accurate detection and effective treatment of the disease.
Speaking on behalf of the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Christopher Yilgwan, Chief Medical Director of Plateau State Specialist Hospital, emphasized that the training targets experienced laboratory professionals who will serve as supervisors and mentors in their respective facilities.
This programme focuses on improving the accuracy and reliability of microscopic malaria diagnosis in healthcare facilities. The selection of Plateau State as host reflects confidence in our infrastructure—particularly the PLASVERIC Public Health Teaching Laboratory, which now meets international standards and can serve as a reference centre for malaria diagnostics, Yilgwan stated.
He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for prioritizing health infrastructure development, noting that the laboratory upgrades have already attracted strategic partnerships and high-impact training opportunities to the state.
A Strategic Investment in Public Health
Nurse Ndak Kizito Zuhumnan, Program Manager of the Plateau State Malaria Elimination Program, described the training as a testament to the state government’s foresight in strengthening the health sector and creating an enabling environment for development partners.
Accurate diagnosis remains the cornerstone of effective malaria treatment and control. This training is specifically designed to enhance the competence of laboratory scientists in malaria microscopy. Participants drawn from tertiary hospitals, private facilities, and primary healthcare centres will return to their institutions to support peer learning, provide mentorship, and strengthen quality assurance processes, Zuhumnan explained.
He added that the impact of the training will extend beyond participating facilities. Trained scientists will support community-level malaria services by supervising and conducting quality checks, ensuring that diagnostic results informing treatment decisions are accurate and reliable.
Zuhumnan also highlighted that the presence of participants from other states underscores Plateau’s growing reputation as a hub for diagnostic excellence and public health collaboration.
Global Partnership Driving Local Impact
Senior Diagnostic Specialist with the REACH PATH Project, Ojo Abiodun, noted that the training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen malaria diagnostic services across supported states through targeted capacity building.
The REACH Project, funded by the United States Department of State, supports Nigeria’s efforts to improve malaria diagnosis and treatment outcomes by ensuring that test results used for treatment decisions are accurate and reliable, Abiodun said.
He disclosed that the training is facilitated by World Health Organisation-certified Level 1 expert microscopists, who are equipping participants with advanced skills in malaria microscopy. Participants were selected based on prior completion of basic malaria microscopy training recommended by national and global health authorities, positioning them to further strengthen supervisory capacity in their regions.
Commitment to Saving Lives
Welcoming participants and facilitators, Dr. Alice Pam-Tok, Plateau State Coordinator for the REACH Project, reiterated that improved quality assurance in malaria diagnosis is critical to ensuring effective treatment and reducing malaria-related illness and deaths in affected communities.
When diagnosis is accurate, treatment is timely and appropriate. This training is not just about technical skills—it’s about saving lives and moving Nigeria closer to malaria elimination, she affirmed.
Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, accounting for a significant proportion of outpatient visits and hospital admissions. Strengthening laboratory capacity is a strategic priority in the National Malaria Strategic Plan, and initiatives like this regional training are vital to achieving sustainable progress.
With its upgraded laboratory infrastructure and commitment to health sector innovation, Plateau State is positioning itself as a leader in diagnostic excellence—a model that could be replicated across other states in the region
Health
Tinubu establishes National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, appoints Obi Adigwe pioneer coordinator
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Obi Adigwe as its pioneer National Coordinator.
The agency will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
The NHTDAO will serve as a meta-level national platform for coordinating the country’s digital health agenda.
It will reinforce, not replace, the existing statutory functions of relevant departments and agencies.
It will also harmonise and empower the public and private institutions across the health system, set the standards that connect them, and operationalise the National Digital Health Architecture, approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
The National Coordinator, Mr Adigwe, as Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, has leveraged science to catalyse interventions in artificial intelligence, translational research, and technology transfer.
He coordinated major projects, including the ¥300m Nanotechnology grant and the AFREXIMBank grant for Africa’s first API Training Facility. He led the roadmap development that underpinned an €18 million EU grant, the largest in Africa for the thematic area.
During the last pandemic, Mr Adigwe showcased African science globally by conducting the world’s first analysis to debunk claims about the Covid Organics preparation.
The Office’s Steering Committee, which will provide strategic direction and oversight, comprises:
- Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare (Co-chair)
- Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (Co-chair)
- Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare (Alternate Co-chair)
- Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
- Idris Alubankudi Saliu, Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy
- Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator, SWAp Coordination Office
- Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator, Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain
- Muyi Aina, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency
- Kelechi Ohiri, Director General, National Health Insurance Authority
- Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
National Information Technology Development Agency - Six representatives of State Commissioners of Health, one from each of the six geopolitical zones
- Pharm Hamza Buhari, stakeholder representing industry and community
President Tinubu expects the NHTDAO to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven health system that improves health outcomes for all citizens, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
26 June, 2026
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has disbursed N339 billion to states since its establishment in 2014, with N235 billion released in the last three years, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has said.
Mr Pate said the increased funding reflects intensified investments in primary healthcare and has accelerated access to essential health services across the country.
He spoke on Friday in Abuja after chairing the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting on the implementation of the BHCPF and other health sector reforms.
“In the last 12 years of BHCPF, N339 billion was disbursed to states, out of which N235 billion was disbursed only in the last three years,’ he said.
“This shows the intensification of the effort to expand Primary Health Care (PHC) under this administration,” he said.
Mr Pate said the committee approved N32.88 billion as the second-quarter 2026 BHCPF disbursement to sustain healthcare services nationwide.
He added that the committee also approved modalities for the inclusion of private-sector representatives on the Ministerial Oversight Committee to strengthen stakeholder participation in health sector governance.
Primary healthcare expansion
According to the minister, more than 8,000 PHCs across the 36 states continue to receive funding through the BHCPF gateways.
He said the funds are channelled through primary healthcare agencies, health insurance authorities, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and emergency medical services.
Mr Pate added that assessments are underway to increase the number of supported facilities from more than 8,000 to 17,600 nationwide.
He also said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has upgraded more than 3,000 PHCs at different stages across the country.
Emergency care and disease preparedness
Mr Pate said the investments had resulted in increased utilisation of healthcare services and expansion of emergency medical treatment nationwide.
According to him, 35 states have established emergency medical service structures, while the remaining two still rely on federal institutions for emergency response.
He said more than 130,000 Nigerians have benefited from emergency medical services financed through the BHCPF.
The minister added that the NCDC has continued to support states in strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and emergency response through the fund.
He disclosed that the federal government has approved disbursements to all 36 states to strengthen preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease following recent developments in parts of Africa.
Improving health indicators
Mr Pate said preliminary results from the 2026 Mini Demographic and Health Survey (Mini-DHS) indicate improvements in several key health indicators since the National Health Sector Renewal Initiative began.
According to him, the survey recorded improvements in antenatal care attendance, skilled birth attendance, contraceptive use, immunisation coverage, child health and HIV services.
“The purpose was to see if we are making progress, and we are glad to see that there is progress. It means we have to double down,” he said.
He added that health insurance enrolment has increased from about 15 million beneficiaries at the start of the current administration to more than 22 million, with over six million Nigerians newly enrolled in the past three years.
Maternal and newborn health
The minister said more than 48,000 women have received free comprehensive emergency obstetric care funded by the federal government through 237 participating health facilities nationwide.
He said many beneficiaries would have struggled to pay for life-saving interventions, including caesarean sections.
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Mr Pate also disclosed that the government’s Free Fistula Programme has provided surgical repairs for more than 4,771 women, who have also been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society after treatment.
In addition, he said more than 2,900 newborns have benefited from the federal government’s neonatal health programme.
Mr Pate reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to strengthening accountability, improving coordination and ensuring the efficient use of health resources to advance Universal Health Coverage.
(NAN)
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