MUTFWANG LAUNCH FREE MEGA MEDICAL OUTREACH IN PLATEAU STATE, CHAMPIONS INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Esq, has launched a free mega medical outreach in collaboration with medical specialists from ICZ Germany, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare through strategic investments and international partnerships.

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‎The outreach, launched on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, is being conducted across the three senatorial zones of the state, bringing free medical services closer to residents, particularly those who would otherwise struggle to afford specialised healthcare.

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‎Governor Mutfwang described the intervention as an emotional moment, to touching lives through the contributions of local health workers and volunteers who have committed their expertise and time to providing free medical care to the people. He also expressed gratitude to the visiting medical specialists, 

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‎“On behalf of the beneficiaries of this programme, I want to say a very big thank you to the entire medical team. This show of love that you have demonstrated, God will reward you abundantly,” the Governor said.

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‎He acknowledged that the intervention reflects the need to strengthen the state’s healthcare delivery capacity, noting that his administration has continued to invest in infrastructure, personnel and medical equipment to improve access to quality healthcare.

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‎While recognising the challenges inherited by the government, Governor Mutfwang expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far and pledged to deepen investment in the sector, even as government balances competing development priorities.

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‎“Our dream, our desire, our vision is to even make Plateau State a health tourism destination in Nigeria,” he declared, underscoring the administration’s ambition to develop the state into a centre for quality medical services capable of attracting patients and specialists from within and beyond Nigeria.

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‎Giving an update on the outreach, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed that the exercise commenced on October 19 at designated health facilities in the Southern and Central zones before extending to the Northern zone on October 26.

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‎He said the programme, initially projected to serve between 6,000 and 10,000 beneficiaries, had already attended to more than 8,000 people across the state. According to him, over 4,000 beneficiaries had been seen in the Southern zone, about 3,000 in the Central zone and more than 1,000 in the Northern zone at the time of the briefing.

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‎The Commissioner further reported that the outreach had facilitated approximately 360 surgical interventions across various specialties, including 19 Caesarean deliveries, about 260 cataract surgeries and the distribution of more than 1,500 pairs of eyeglasses. Dental services, including 146 tooth extractions at the Jos centre within the period reported, were also ongoing, alongside the screening of patients for specialised neurosurgical and orthopaedic procedures.

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‎Dr. Baamlong noted that the programme had particularly benefited residents of rural communities, many of whom travelled from their villages to access services that would otherwise be beyond their financial reach. He also commended the commitment of nearly 200 health workers engaged for the exercise, many of whom volunteered their services, as well as supporting organisations, including the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN).

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‎The collaboration with ICZ Germany medical specialists demonstrates how deliberate government action can create an enabling platform for international medical cooperation, bringing specialised expertise closer to underserved communities while strengthening local healthcare delivery. By providing the institutional support and coordination required for the outreach, the Plateau State Government is facilitating a partnership that delivers immediate medical relief while reinforcing the broader objective of building a more accessible and responsive healthcare system.

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‎The Commissioner thanked Governor Mutfwang for allowing his administration sustain strategic investments in the health sector, with the long-term goal of improving healthcare outcomes, reducing the financial burden of illness on families and positioning Plateau State as an emerging destination for medical services in Nigeria.

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‎Gyang Bere, PhD, 

‎Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State 

‎October 29, 2026