Taraba adopts National Task Shifting, Task Sharing Policy

The Taraba state government through the state Ministry of Health has joined other states to adopt the National Task-Shifting and Task-Sharing Policy for essential health care services.

The exercise, which took place in Jalingo, was facilitated by the Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation {WACHEF} with support from the development Research and Project Center {dRPC} through the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health {PACFaH@Scale}.

Speaking at the occasion which had the presence of medical experts and government officials, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Musa Obadiah, paid glowing tributes to the aforementioned partners for their tremendous support, saying had it not been for the partners, the dream of launching the policy document in the state would have been a mirage. Lauding the contributory efforts of WHO, Nigeria Medical Association {NMA}, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency {TSPHCDA}, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives {NANNM}, Medical and Health Workers Union {M&HWU}, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria {PSN}, Coalition of Nigeria Civil Society in the state, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria {PCN} among others whom he said contributed to the development of the policy, the domestication of said policy which will contribute in improving the health indices of the state.

Viral hepatitis, which is a disease of public concern, was also integrated in the policy by WACHEF which the Project Director, Ibrahim Malik said is geared towards reducing the burden of the disease. Taraba is the 23rd state to adopt the National Policy on Task Shifting/Task Sharing policy.