Plateau State Revamps 105 Health Centres and Upgrades Two to Hospitals

The Plateau State government has revitalised 105 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) and upgraded two of them to cottage hospitals. This is part of efforts to make healthcare better, especially for people in rural and underserved areas.

The Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong, shared this news on Tuesday during the 12th Plateau Council on Health meeting in Jos, the state capital.

Mr Ba’amlong explained that the upgrades included improving infrastructure, providing medical equipment, and strengthening the healthcare workforce to make health services more accessible.

He pointed out that the two upgraded facilities are in Tudun Wada, located in Jos North Local Government Area, and another in Wase Local Government Area.

According to him, the Tudun Wada cottage hospital has been commissioned and is now operational. The Wase facility is still waiting to be commissioned.

The commissioner mentioned that these improvements build on decisions made at the 11th council meeting in 2025. The focus then was on enhancing the state’s healthcare system to align with national priorities.

Mr Ba’amlong also said that the government had boosted the healthcare workforce after Governor Caleb Mutfwang approved the recruitment of 1,300 healthcare workers across the state.

He explained that 1,050 of the new recruits will work in PHCs, while 150 will join the Primary Healthcare Board to improve service delivery.

The commissioner added that healthcare workers have received training, and ongoing development will help improve their skills and healthcare services in Plateau communities.

He noted that enrolment in the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) has increased to 320,000. This has helped reduce out-of-pocket costs and made healthcare services more accessible.

Mr Ba’amlong also revealed that the state has made an action plan to enhance disease surveillance and improve data reporting. This will help with better health planning and responses.

He is hopeful that the 12th council meeting will boost the healthcare system, improve service delivery, and set future priorities for healthcare policies and programs in Plateau.

While opening the meeting, Governor Mutfwang, represented by his deputy Josephine Piyo, confirmed the administration’s commitment to making healthcare available for all residents, no matter their situation.

He stressed that healthcare should be a right for everyone, not just a privilege. He promised continued investment in revitalising PHCs across the state’s 17 local government areas.

The governor reiterated the goal of ensuring that every federal and state ward has a functional, well-staffed, and properly equipped primary healthcare facility serving its people.

He also promised to increase health insurance enrolment, especially for poor and vulnerable residents, to ensure financial issues do not stop people from getting necessary medical care.

He announced plans to hire more healthcare workers and provide training opportunities. Better welfare packages will help improve workforce capacity and support better patient care.

Mr Mutfwang mentioned that secondary and tertiary facilities are also getting upgrades. This includes better equipment, digital medical records, and stronger emergency response systems to enhance healthcare services.

He revealed that Plateau State Specialist Hospital is being upgraded to become a teaching hospital for Plateau State University’s College of Health Sciences. This will need more infrastructure, personnel, and equipment.

The governor called for stronger partnerships with federal health authorities, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector. He stressed that practical solutions should guide healthcare policies, budgets, and reforms.