By Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, has received officials of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, Abuja, as well as representatives from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies from Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Adamawa States.
The delegation was in Gombe for a peer-learning visit on immunisation and other primary healthcare activities.
Welcoming the visitors, Dr. Jatau urged them to study the state’s health system closely and provide constructive feedback to help strengthen health interventions.
The Deputy Governor noted that, “The present administration prioritises health after security, describing it as vital to human development and economic growth.”
He explained that Gombe State had 11 local government areas and 114 wards, with each having two functional health centres, totalling 228 facilities.
According to him, “The government embarked on a 1,100-kilometre road network project across the state to improve access.”
Recalling his experience as Chairman of the COVID-19 Committee, Dr Jatau said the state took testing and vaccination to public spaces, such as churches, mosques, and social gatherings, to increase participation.
He called for greater focus on socially hard-to-reach populations, those affected by religious or cultural barriers, and geographically remote communities.
The Deputy Governor also suggested collaboration with traditional medicine practitioners to identify safe and effective local remedies that could strengthen the health system.
Meanwhile, the Head of Delegation, Mr. Ibrahim Yusuf Three Thousand, said the team was in Gombe to learn from the successes recorded in health delivery, particularly vaccination.
He commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Dr. Jatau for their leadership and commitment.
Representing the Executive Director of the Vaccine Network for Disease Control, Mrs. Chika Nwankwo, praised the achievements of Gombe State, including sustaining programmes after GAVI’s exit by absorbing 440 health workers and implementing the CONHESS salary structure.
She urged communities to take ownership of local health initiatives to reduce dependence on external funding.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, represented by Dr. Musa Mustapha Abdullahi, gave credit to the progress made in Gombe State to the leadership and support of the Deputy Governor.