The Plateau State Ministry of Health has announced its readiness to host the 11th State Council on Health, scheduled to hold from Tuesday, August 19 to Thursday, August 21, 2025, in Jos, the state capital.
Speaking at a press conference in Jos, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, highlighted the key objectives and strategic areas of focus for the Council, noting that the meeting would serve as a platform to strengthen health systems and improve service delivery across the state.
He emphasized the importance of the event in strengthening the state’s healthcare system and accelerating efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“This year’s Council is themed Repositioning Plateau State Health Systems Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage’ It reflects our government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every citizen regardless of location, gender, age, or socioeconomic status has access to quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare services,” Dr. Baamlong stated.
He further noted that the three-day event will center around three major sub-themes:
Strengthening Resilient and Inclusive Health Systems – Focused on building a robust health system capable of responding to public health emergencies like pandemics, while ensuring that vulnerable and underserved populations are not excluded.
Improving Access to Essential Medicines – Aimed at exploring strategies to ensure the availability, affordability, and rational use of quality-assured medicines, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Enhancing Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Rural Areas Concentrating on reducing preventable maternal and child deaths, improving skilled birth attendance, and strengthening primary healthcare services.
Dr. Baamlong explained that the Council will bring together key stakeholders from all 17 Local Government Areas, including senior officials from the Ministry of Health and its agencies, representatives from development partners, civil society organizations, academia, traditional rulers, and the private health sector.
He added that the event will include technical presentations, policy dialogues, breakout sessions, and the drafting of a final communique that will shape the direction of health policies in the state.
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour and is expected to officially open the Council on Tuesday, August.
To ensure the smooth execution of the Council, five subcommittees have been set up to oversee various aspects of planning and implementation.
“The outcomes of this Council will influence the future of healthcare delivery in Plateau State.
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We count on the media to play its vital role in sharing accurate information and promoting public engagement before, during, and after the event.” He added.
The Commissioner also expressed deep appreciation to the Executive Governor for his sustained support for the health sector and thanked both local and international partners for their continued collaboration in improving healthcare outcomes across the state.
In conclusion, Dr. Baamlong described the Council as a pivotal moment in the state’s healthcare reform efforts. “This is not just a meeting it is a defining Opportunity to reposition our health sector and ensure that quality healthcare becomes a reality for every citizen of Plateau State,” he added.