…tasks network, northern states on strengthening health systems
Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, has called on health officials and development partners to strengthen their approach to healthcare delivery by paying greater attention to the socially hard-to-reach populations while sustaining collaboration across northern states.
Jatau made the call on Friday when he received a delegation from the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), Abuja, alongside officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Adamawa States, who were in Gombe on a peer learning visit to understudy the state’s model of success in immunisation and primary health care delivery.
Welcoming the visitors, the Deputy Governor urged them to “study Gombe’s health system critically and offer valuable feedback that can help strengthen health interventions not just in our state, but across the region.”
He noted that the administration of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya had made health its number one priority after security, given its central role in human and economic development.
“Health is the foundation of everything we do. It drives productivity, education, and prosperity. That’s why our government continues to invest heavily in the sector — because without good health, nothing else can function properly,” Dr Jatau stated.
Highlighting the state’s investments in healthcare infrastructure, he revealed that Gombe now boasts two functional health centres in each of its 114 wards, bringing the total to 228 facilities, alongside the ongoing 1,100-kilometre rural road project designed to enhance access to essential services.
Recounting his experience as chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Response Committee, Dr. Jatau said the administration adopted a community-based strategy during the pandemic to overcome public resistance to testing.
“When people refused to come out for testing, we went to them — in churches, mosques, and social gatherings. It worked. That’s how we learned that access to health care is not just about building facilities but meeting people where they are,” he explained.
He further emphasised that the state’s approach to governance is guided by Talcott Parsons’ systems theory, which underscores the interdependence of all societal components in achieving progress.
Paying tribute to the late Senior District Head of Gombe, Alhaji Abdulkadir Shehu Usman, Yeriman Gombe, the Deputy Governor praised his contributions to the success of immunisation campaigns in the state.
“The Yeriman Gombe was a true advocate of public enlightenment. He played a major role in dispelling religious and cultural myths around vaccination. His efforts saved lives and strengthened community trust,” Dr. Jatau said.
The Deputy Governor also advised that more attention be directed toward “socially hard-to-reach” groups, such as those affected by cultural or religious misconceptions, as opposed to focusing solely on physical distance.
“Many of our challenges in health delivery are not geographical but social. We must engage minds and belief systems with patience and understanding,” he added.
Jatau equally urged collaboration between modern and traditional health practitioners, suggesting that some traditional remedies could hold value if properly researched.
“Not all traditional practices are harmful. If we integrate verified local knowledge into our system, we can build a stronger, more inclusive healthcare model,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Ibrahim Yusuf, Coordinator of Gombe VNDC, said the team’s visit aimed to learn from Gombe’s “remarkable progress in immunisation coverage and health system coordination.”
“Gombe has become a reference point in northern Nigeria for how to make primary healthcare work. We’re here to understand the secret behind that success,” he said, commending Governor Yahaya and Dr. Jatau for their leadership and mentorship.
In her remarks, Chika Nwankwo, who represented the Executive Director of VNDC, Abuja, applauded Gombe for sustaining its health programmes even after the exit of international partners like GAVI.
“Gombe didn’t allow progress to collapse after donor support ended. Absorbing 440 health workers and adopting the CONHESS salary structure at par with federal standards shows genuine commitment,” Nwankwo noted.
She also appealed to communities to take greater ownership of health initiatives, saying,
“Development is not sustainable when communities remain passive beneficiaries. Everyone must contribute, even in small ways, to maintain progress.”
Similarly, Dr Musa Abdullahi, Director of Disease Control at the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency (GSPHCDA), who represented the Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, attributed the state’s success in health outcomes to the leadership and vision of the Deputy Governor.
“What we have achieved in immunisation and PHC delivery stems from strong political will and consistent support from the top,” Dr. Abdullahi stated.
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from all participating states to deepen collaboration and replicate Gombe’s health sector innovations within their respective jurisdictions.
