By Gyang Bere, Jos
The Director General of Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA), Dr. Fabong Jemchang Yildam has said the agency is working to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality rate in the state.
He noted that most Plateau citizens find it difficult to access health care services, saying some people lost their lives for lack of N2000, hence the establishment of the agency.
Dr. Yildam disclosed this at the weekend during a stewardship roundtable programme organized by Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC), at it headquarters in Jos.
“The current health population on the Plateau which is characterize with the death of pregnant women which is refer to maternal mortality rate is very high and prior to my appointment I served as head of the emergency department of Plateau State Specialist Hospital.
“I have seen people dying for want of a paltry N2000 and so any health facility you go, the quality of health care you get depends on how much money you have in your pocket.
“This is a big challenge and we will not be discussing anything if the people are not healthy, they can’t go to school, they can’t go to the market and they can’t do anything. They need to be healthy before they can do that, that is why we are here to reduce maternal mortality rate in the state.”
He applauded Governor Simon Lalong for assenting to the bill leading to the establishment of the agency in the state, in 2019 to ensure that the state achieve Universal health coverage.
Yildam said the agency took off with a robust awareness campaign to sensitize the people, particularly at the rural communities to come up with a reliable data base.
He said the the principal enrollment includes, a spouse and four biological children below the age of 18 years with additional charges; all students of tertiary Institutions; retirees ; all pupils of public and private primary schools; all formal sector who enrolled; all voluntary contributors and all vulnerable as defined in our operational guidelines among others.
His counterpart from the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengman said effort is on to douse tension and halt the circle of violence that engulfed the state.
“We are working with critical stakeholders to calm fried nerve as a result of the violence that rock the state since 2001. But I want to say that despite the pockets of attacks that are still going on, the Lalong administration has restored confidence and mutual understanding among the people on like what the state used to be in the past.”
The Director General of Plateau Micro Finance Development Agency (PLASMIDA), Haggai Gutap and the Director General Plateau Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (PICTDA), David Dasar also gave a run down of achievements in their agencies.
