Taraba Govt Launches 2025 Health Sector Operational Plan to Drive Reform and Service Delivery

The Taraba State Government, under the leadership of Governor Agbu Kefas, has officially launched its 2025 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for the health sector, signaling a renewed commitment to transforming healthcare delivery across the state.

The plan, unveiled during a three-day capacity-building workshop for health managers in Jalingo, is built on a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) that aligns with national health priorities and Nigeria’s National Health Sector Strategic Blueprint.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Reuben Nwunuji, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency and SWAp Desk Officer, described the AOP as the result of inclusive dialogue and collaboration among health professionals and stakeholders.

“The 2025 AOP is the outcome of extensive consultations and shared commitment,” Nwunuji said. He emphasized that the plan contains measurable targets, costed interventions, and practical strategies designed to be implemented across all tiers of the healthcare system.

He urged that the plan must not become “a policy tucked away on shelves,” but must be actively deployed in primary health centres, local government health teams, and secondary health facilities to impact communities directly.

Key focus areas of the plan include expanding health insurance coverage, leveraging digital health technologies, and improving preparedness for public health emergencies.

Dr. Nwunuji also reaffirmed Governor Kefas’s dedication to healthcare reform, noting that revitalizing the health system has remained a top priority since his administration began.

Also speaking at the workshop, Garkumyebiyi Richard, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the State Ministry of Health, introduced participants to the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme. Funded through $1.57 billion in concessional financing from the World Bank, HOPE supports the implementation of the National Health Sector Reform Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and SWAp reforms across states.

Richard explained that the HOPE initiative focuses on governance, education, and health—three pillars of human capital development. He noted that the programme aims to align healthcare professionals around shared goals while encouraging collaboration with ministries, departments, agencies, and development partners.

Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Health Commissioner, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Harmony Chufor, assured stakeholders of the government’s resolve to implement the AOP effectively.

He highlighted the plan’s built-in monitoring and evaluation systems, designed to ensure accountability, measure progress, and support adaptive learning. “All hands must be on deck to make this plan a reality,” Dr. Chufor said.