Plateau State has emerged among the top five performing states in Primary Health Care (PHC) delivery in Nigeria, achieving four out of five national targets in the Q2 2026 State Performance Review of PHC Indicators.
The performance review, compiled from the District Health Information System (DHIS2) as of July 22, 2026, assessed five key indicators: Penta 3 immunisation coverage, Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) deliveries, women completing four Antenatal Care (ANC) visits, general attendance at PHC facilities, and Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Level 2 facility functionality.
According to the review, Plateau achieved its Q2 targets for Penta 3 immunisation, ANC 4, SBA deliveries and general attendance, falling short only on the BHCPF Level 2 functionality indicator.
Plateau was listed alongside Abia, Bayelsa, Edo and Imo as the only five states that achieved four of the five targets during the quarter. Notably, no state in Nigeria achieved all five targets.
Plateau Records Strong Gains
The Q2 figures demonstrate significant improvements in the state’s primary healthcare indicators compared with the 2023 baseline.
Penta 3 coverage increased from 29,300 to 44,900 children, exceeding the Q2 target of 38,500.
Skilled Birth Attendant deliveries rose from a baseline of 2,800 to 10,400, surpassing the target of 8,300, while ANC 4 attendance increased to 14,700.
General attendance at PHC facilities also reached 699,000, significantly above the quarterly target of 510,000.
The performance comes against a challenging national backdrop. During Q2, only ANC 4 achieved its national target, while Penta 3, SBA, general attendance and BHCPF Level 2 functionality remained below national benchmarks.
Government Investment Driving Performance
The Plateau State Government’s sustained investment in primary healthcare has been identified as a major factor behind the improved performance.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has provided increased political and administrative support to the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board (PSPHCB), including prompt consideration of operational needs, expanded communication channels and direct engagement with stakeholders.
The administration has also strengthened collaboration with traditional rulers, including their engagement as Ambassadors for Primary Health Care, to deepen community ownership and improve utilisation of PHC services.
The Board, under the leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr. Raymond Juryit, has intensified integrated supportive supervision across PHC facilities, with particular attention to human resources, the 207 BHCPF-supported PHCs, data quality and evidence-based planning.
Major Maternal Health Intervention
A major component of the state’s strategy has been its renewed focus on maternal and newborn health.
The Mutfwang administration facilitated the production and statewide distribution of 78,000 safe delivery kits, designed to encourage the utilisation of maternal health services, promote clean and safe deliveries and contribute to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
The government has also approved the recruitment and deployment of critical health personnel, particularly Skilled Birth Attendants, to PHCs across the state.
The recruitment is considered significant because large-scale recruitment of health workers specifically for primary healthcare facilities had not occurred in Plateau for more than a decade.
99 PHCs Revitalised to Level 2
In line with standards set by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), WHO and UNICEF, 99 PHCs have been revitalised to Level 2 status.
The upgrade is expected to strengthen the facilities’ capacity to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare services while improving access to essential health interventions at the community level.
The state has also continued to benefit from technical and financial support from development partners across areas including RMNCAH+N, malaria prevention and control, WASH and health systems strengthening.
Plateau’s Performance Trajectory
The Q2 2026 result builds on a strong performance trajectory recorded by Plateau over the preceding quarters.
In Q3 2025, Plateau achieved a perfect 5 out of 5 targets, becoming one of only five states in Nigeria to meet all five indicators.
The state recorded 44,100 children for Penta 3, 6,400 SBA deliveries, 13,000 ANC 4 visits and 573,000 general PHC attendances, while also meeting the difficult BHCPF Level 2 functionality target.
In Q4 2025, Plateau sustained strong performance, recording 45,000 Penta 3 beneficiaries, 7,800 SBA deliveries, 12,100 ANC 4 visits and 562,000 general attendances.
Q1 2026, however, proved more difficult nationally, with no state meeting all five national indicators. Plateau nonetheless protected two critical maternal-health indicators, meeting its targets for ANC 4 and SBA deliveries.
The state has now rebounded strongly in Q2 2026, returning to the national top tier with four of the five targets achieved.
Juryit: Result Validates Investment in PHC
Reacting to the latest performance, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Raymond Juryit, described the result as evidence that the state’s strategies are yielding results.
“To be ranked among the top five states in Nigeria is a clear indication that our strategies for maternal and child health are working.”
Juryit commended Governor Mutfwang for his administration’s support for the health sector and acknowledged the commitment of frontline health workers across the state.
He said the Board would focus on closing the remaining gap in BHCPF Level 2 functionality, which remains a major challenge nationally.
According to him, the Board will prioritise the validation and certification of BHCPF Level 2 facilities in Q3 2026, alongside stronger monthly data reviews and closer collaboration with Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation teams.
Plateau Sets Sights on Full Target Achievement
While Plateau missed the BHCPF Level 2 functionality target in Q2, its achievement of four out of five national indicators places the state among Nigeria’s leading performers in primary healthcare delivery.
With continued investment in human resources, maternal and child health, facility revitalisation, data quality and community engagement, stakeholders are optimistic that Plateau can close the remaining gap and return to full 5-out-of-5 target attainment in subsequent quarters.
For Plateau, the Q2 2026 result is not merely a ranking—it is evidence of a primary healthcare system showing measurable resilience, sustained investment and renewed capacity to deliver for citizens.
