Taraba State Cuts Zero-Dose Children to 4%, Boosts Skilled Births

Taraba State has made remarkable strides in its primary healthcare services, drastically cutting the number of children unvaccinated from 24% to just 4%. The Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA) announced this significant reduction in "zero-dose" children, alongside a notable increase in skilled birth attendance, which rose from 54.7% to 74.5%.

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Taraba had also emerged as the best-performing state in Nigeria in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Measles-Rubella vaccination campaigns.

These achievements position Taraba as Nigeria's top performer in crucial vaccination campaigns, including Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Measles-Rubella. Dr. Tukura Nuhu, Executive Secretary of TSPHCDA, attributed these successes to ongoing reforms. These include hiring 450 health personnel, 336 emergency ambulance staff, and approving the engagement of 480 community health workers. The state has also revitalized 113 primary healthcare facilities and upgraded three regional centers.

However, sustaining this progress requires immediate attention to several operational challenges. Dr. Nuhu highlighted inadequate counterpart funding, poor budget releases, a lack of permanent office space, and unpaid electricity bills for state cold stores as major concerns. He stressed that consistent financial commitments and improved logistics are vital.

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Sustaining the gains would require the state government to urgently address operational challenges confronting the agency.

Failure to address these issues could undermine the hard-won gains and jeopardize potential support from international donor agencies. The agency's ability to maintain momentum in improving maternal and child healthcare hinges on the state government's swift action to resolve these critical operational hurdles.

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Timely financial commitments and improved logistics were essential to sustaining the progress recorded in the state’s healthcare sector.