ACOMIN Advocates for Improved Malaria and HIV Services in Taraba
By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
As part of its commitment to supporting government efforts in strengthening health care delivery services, the State Advocacy Team (SAT) of the Association of Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) conducted high-level advocacy visits on July 24, 2025, to two key health agencies in Taraba State.
The team, led by Alhaji Muhammad T. Danburam, ACOMIN’s State Chair, visited the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency (TSPHCDA) and the Taraba State AIDS Control Agency (TACA) to present findings from the Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) project and advocate for prompt solutions to improve access to essential health commodities across the state.
The visit to TSPHCDA was prompted by reports of gaps in malaria control interventions, specifically the stockout of Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL 2) and routine Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) at Mutum Biyu Health Post, Gassol LGA, and a stockout of routine ITNs at High Mammy PHC, Takum LGA.
These shortages were said to significantly impact access to malaria treatment and prevention particularly during the rainy season, which sees increased malaria transmission.
The team urged TSPHCDA to prioritize the replenishment of these life-saving commodities to protect maternal and child health in the affected communities.
The advocacy team also visited TACA to discuss gaps in HIV testing and prevention services reported at: Jatau Benyi PHC, Donga LGA, Pupule PHCC, Yorro LGA and Sabon Gida Tukura PHCC, Kurmi LGA.
They further raised concerns over the lack of budgetary releases to Local Government Agencies for Control of AIDS (LACAs) across several LGAs, which has affected HIV response at the grassroots.
The team emphasized the need for early detection, and prevention, noting that addressing these gaps is critical to achieving the state’s HIV/AIDS response goals.
In their separate responses, Mr. Mahmud Mohammed of the TSPHCDA and Mr. Jallason Yuguda of TACA assured the advocacy team of their agencies’ prompt commitment to restore the availability of the needed commodities and to escalate the identified issues for action at the appropriate levels.
