By Lengmi Joshua Lumi
The Plateau State Ministry of Health has convened a stakeholder validation workshop on the state’s HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria (HTM)-focused Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) and Adaptation Plan, as part of efforts to strengthen the resilience of the state’s health system to climate change.
The workshop, held at Silk Suites Hotel, Jos, brought together government ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, professional bodies, academia and other stakeholders to review climate-related health risks, assess existing vulnerabilities and identify practical adaptation measures to safeguard essential healthcare services across the state.
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, described climate change as an emerging public health concern with growing implications for disease patterns, healthcare delivery and health-system resilience.
He stressed the need for an evidence-based assessment of climate-related risks, particularly their potential impact on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria prevention, treatment and control programmes in Plateau State.
Ba’amlong called for stronger stakeholder collaboration to identify vulnerabilities, address gaps and develop context-specific adaptation measures. He also acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Oxford Policy Management (OPM), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Global Fund and other development partners towards the exercise.
The Commissioner explained that the assessment would inform the development of a Plateau State Health Sector Adaptation Plan, aligned with the National Health Adaptation Plan, to integrate climate considerations into health planning, budgeting and service delivery across the state’s 17 local government areas.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to translating the assessment findings into actionable interventions that protect vulnerable populations, strengthen health facilities and improve preparedness for future climate-related health threats.
Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Mafwalal Bunah Masok, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of collective action in addressing the public health challenges associated with climate change.
He noted that the workshop provided an opportunity to draw on the expertise of relevant stakeholders towards developing sustainable responses and strengthening the state’s capacity to manage emerging climate-related health risks.
The State Climate and Health Desk Officer, Dr Tat Bok, outlined the objectives, methodology and expected outputs of the workshop, highlighting the need to review the assessment findings, identify health-system capacities and gaps, and validate proposed adaptation priorities and implementation arrangements.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Samuel Aliyu Tsoho; the Consultant for the domestication of the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) into the Plateau State Health Sector Adaptation Plan (HSAP), Mr Victor Kuchili; and representatives of academia, professional bodies and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The speakers emphasised cross-sectoral collaboration, evidence-based planning and the need for practical adaptation strategies to strengthen health-system resilience and ensure continuity of essential healthcare services.
The State Engagement Lead, Mr Jeremiah Panshak Kassem, led technical presentations on the assessment’s scope, methodology, major climate hazards, population exposure and vulnerabilities, as well as the implications for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services.
The presentations also examined existing health-system capacities, adaptive capabilities, ongoing interventions and identified gaps requiring targeted attention.
During the technical sessions, participants reviewed the vulnerability and capacity assessment findings, examined projected climate hazards and considered their potential implications for HTM programmes and other essential health services.
Discussions further addressed adaptation priorities, emergency preparedness, continuity of healthcare delivery and strategies for strengthening the health system’s ability to anticipate, withstand and respond to climate-related disruptions.
Stakeholders also reviewed the proposed implementation roadmap, including priority interventions, indicative costing, institutional responsibilities, timelines and monitoring indicators. The plenary sessions provided an opportunity to incorporate feedback, identify outstanding data and evidence requirements, and agree on necessary revisions ahead of the finalisation of the assessment and adaptation plan.
Among the expected outcomes were validated assessment findings, agreed technical revisions, additional evidence required to complete the documents, and a practical implementation roadmap outlining priority interventions, responsible institutions and timelines for follow-up actions.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks and closing remarks by the Director of Public Health, Dr Mafwalal Bunah Masok, who appreciated participants and development partners for their contributions towards strengthening climate and health planning in Plateau State.
The validation exercise represents an important step towards mainstreaming climate considerations into health-sector policies, planning, budgeting and service delivery in the state. It is also expected to provide a framework for protecting vulnerable populations, improving health-system preparedness and sustaining essential HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services in the face of evolving climate-related threats.
