The Plateau State Government has approved 10 key health resolutions aimed at improving healthcare delivery, strengthening disease surveillance and ensuring sustainable healthcare financing across the state.
The resolutions were adopted at the 12th Plateau State Council on Health, held from 20th to 22nd October, 2026, under the theme, “From Policy to People: Consolidating Quality Universal Health Coverage and Health Security on the Plateau.”
The three-day council, which serves as the apex health policy-making body in the state, brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to deliberate on strategies for strengthening the health sector. The opening ceremony was declared open by the Executive Governor of Plateau State, represented by the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Mrs Josephine Piyo.
In his press briefing, the Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed that 19 memoranda were reviewed during the technical sessions. Of these, five were stepped down, 12 were presented for council consideration, while two were classified as information memoranda.
During the subsequent council sessions, 14 memoranda were reviewed by council members, with 10 approved as state resolutions and two stepped down for further consideration. The press brief did not specify the titles of all the memoranda reviewed or those stepped down.
The 10 approved memoranda and resolutions are:
- Strengthening Human Resources for Health through Workforce Development, Equitable Distribution and Retention Strategies in Plateau State.
- The Roles of Health Records and Health Information Practitioners in Achieving Quality Universal Health Coverage and Health Security on the Plateau.
- Antimicrobial Resistance as a Growing Public Health and Health Security Threat in Plateau State: Strengthening Antimicrobial Stewardship through a One Health Approach in a Changing Climate.
- Establishment of the Plateau State Private Health Facilities and Institutions Regulatory Agency.
- Health Security and One Health: Epidemic Preparedness, Surveillance Systems and Climate-related Health Risks, including the Creation of an Emergency Fund for Rapid Outbreak Response.
- Verification of Routine Childhood Immunisation Records as a Requirement for School Enrolment in Plateau State.
- Leveraging Project ECHO and Other Tele-learning Platforms for Health Workforce Capacity Building.
- Establishment of a Directorate for Food, Cosmetics and Water Safety within the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency.
- Governance and Leadership: Policy Coherence, Accountability and Regulatory Strengthening.
- Establishment of the Plateau State Health Trust Fund.
The council also featured presentations on healthcare workforce development, sustainable health financing, digital health information systems, community engagement and the implementation of resolutions from the 11th State Council on Health.
Beyond the council’s policy outcomes, Dr. Ba’amlong provided an update on Plateau State’s preparedness against Ebola, stating that the government was reactivating its surveillance and response mechanisms following alerts from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
He explained that the measures include relaunching public awareness campaigns, distributing health education materials, strengthening surveillance at the airport and border communities, and preparing isolation facilities at Plateau Specialist Hospital and Jos University Teaching Hospital for suspected cases.
The Commissioner added that infection prevention and control training would be strengthened among healthcare workers, while urging medical practitioners to promptly report suspected cases to the relevant authorities.
He also encouraged residents to observe appropriate preventive measures, including regular hand hygiene and avoiding direct contact with suspected cases, emphasising the importance of public cooperation in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the approved resolutions and called on stakeholders, development partners and residents to support efforts towards building a resilient, accessible and people-centred healthcare system across Plateau State.
