Taraba Battles High Maternal Deaths, Seeks Stronger Health Funding

Taraba State has raised fresh concerns over its high maternal mortality rate, as stakeholders in the health sector have called for increased funding, stronger institutional collaboration and urgent interventions to prevent avoidable deaths among pregnant women and newborns.

The call emerged at the end of a two-day Joint Annual Review Meeting organised by the Taraba State Ministry of Health in Jalingo.

The participants identified inadequate funding, difficult terrain and limited access to healthcare services as a major obstacles to achieving Universal Health Coverage in the stat

The stakeholders warned that the state’s efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths could remain constrained unless the government, legislature, local councils, development partners and other relevant institutions strengthened their financial and operational support for the health sector.

Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Burdiya Buma, said government alone could not build a health system capable of meeting universal standards, and  stressed that concerted efforts were required to tackle preventable diseases and improve healthcare delivery across the state.

Dr. Buma said, Governor Agbu Kefas was committed to ensuring that quality and affordable healthcare services reached residents in every part of Taraba.

He noted that, although the state had recorded progress in disease surveillance, public awareness and other health interventions, major challenges remained in the drive to expand access to essential healthcare services.

The commissioner identified maternal and neonatal deaths, difficult terrain and inadequate funding as some of the critical factors militating against the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

He called for stronger partnerships among government institutions, local authorities, health agencies, development partners and communities to close existing gaps in the sector.

The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mr. Tukura Nuhu, appealed to the state House of Assembly to ensure the full approval of the agency’s budget, saying every component of the appropriation had a direct impact on healthcare delivery.

Mr. Nuhu also urged the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to ensure adequate funding for primary healthcare services, particularly at the grassroots.

He explained that, the agency was expected by law to receive financial support from the federal, state and local governments, with the local government funding component falling under the supervision of the Bureau.

According to him, sustained investment in primary healthcare is crucial to reducing maternal mortality and expanding access to quality health services in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

“All the stakeholders invited have significant roles to play in advancing the health sector, particularly in reducing the maternal mortality rate, which remains high in the state,” he said.

The North-East Programme Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Aliyu Tukur, said more than 70 per cent of maternal deaths were preventable, underscoring the need for increased access to timely and quality maternal healthcare.

Tukur said, the Federal Government was implementing the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Programme across the country to provide vulnerable pregnant women with access to safe delivery services at no cost.

He identified the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo; Specialist Hospital, Jalingo; Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Donga; and General Hospital, Gembu, as the designated facilities providing services under the programme in Taraba State.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Joseph Kassong, represented by Dr. Demekpe Nathanel, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Abdulaziz Titong, represented by Deputy Clerk, Hamamjam Usman, pledged the legislature’s commitment to supporting the effective consideration and passage of health-sector budgets.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Taraba State chapter, Hon. Moses Maihankali, said the 16 local government chairmen in the state would support the Primary Healthcare Development Agency in its efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

Hon. Maihankali, who is also the Chairman of Kurmi Local Government Council, expressed optimism that gaps identified during the review would be addressed during the implementation of health programmes and policies.

The Kuru Kona, Augustine Njengmang, represented by the District Head of Kona, Anthony Augustine, commended the Ministry of Health for it sincere assessment of the sector and its commitment to improving healthcare services.

At the end of the meeting, participants adopted a communiqué resolving to strengthen the implementation of the Taraba State Health Sector Strategic Blueprint and sustain the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) to improve coordination, accountability and service delivery.

The resolutions are expected to guide renewed efforts to mobilise resources, strengthen primary healthcare and reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths across the state.