FG moves to strengthen monitoring of primary healthcare services in Gombe
The Federal Government has kicked off the selection process for the second batch of the National Health Fellows Programme in Gombe State, a scheme designed to boost primary healthcare delivery and strengthen the monitoring of health services at community level.
Speaking during the interview session in Gombe, Dr Suraj Abdulkarim, Desk Officer for the State Sector-Wide Approach under the Coordinating Minister of Health, said the programme was created to involve young Nigerian graduates in driving health sector reforms nationwide.
He explained that one fellow would be chosen from each local government area to act as a focal person, tasked with overseeing health service delivery and reporting directly to the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to him, the initiative offers unemployed graduates a chance to play an active role in improving healthcare, particularly within primary healthcare facilities.
“They will monitor activities in health centres, support mentorship initiatives and help ensure that quality services reach people at the grassroots,” he said.
He added that the programme attracted hundreds of applications across the country, after which a national screening exercise shortlisted the top three candidates from each local government area for the ongoing state-level interviews in Gombe.
While the programme is fully funded by the Federal Government, Dr Abdulkarim noted that the Gombe State Government has demonstrated strong interest and may consider expanding participation.
“One fellow per local government may not be sufficient. If the state government aligns with the initiative, increasing the number of fellows could further enhance service delivery across communities,” he added.
Representing the state government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, praised the programme, describing it as impactful, transparent and driven by merit.
He assured that the state would provide the fellows with unhindered access to health facilities, relevant tools and data to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.
“The state government is fully committed to the success of this programme. The selection process is fair, open and merit-based, and we are keen to see capable candidates who can make a real difference in healthcare delivery,” he explained.
Also speaking, Professor Mohammed Manga, Provost of the College of Medical Sciences at Gombe State University and a member of the interview panel, described the initiative as forward-looking and inclusive.
He noted that the programme is not limited to medical graduates alone, but also accommodates those from disciplines such as ICT and social sciences, reflecting a modern, multidisciplinary approach to strengthening health systems.
In the same vein, Hauwa T. Hassan, Acting Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Gombe State, confirmed the transparency of the process, stating that WHO is participating as an observer to promote fairness and accountability.
“Our role is to support the credibility of the exercise. We are confident that competent candidates will emerge and contribute meaningfully to strengthening the health system,” she said.
At the conclusion of the exercise, 11 fellows,one from each local government area in Gombe State,will be selected, trained and deployed to monitor primary healthcare activities, improve accountability and support quality service delivery across communities.
