The Taraba State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising Primary Health Care (PHC), maternal, newborn, and child health, immunisation and other high-impact interventions in its 2027 health sector plans. The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Gbansheya Buma, made this known while declaring open the 2027 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) Harmonisation, Review and Finalisation Workshop held in Yola, Adamawa State. Dr. Buma said the state’s priorities must focus on interventions capable of delivering the greatest impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. He identified strengthening Primary Health Care, improving maternal, newborn and child health, immunisation and nutrition, malaria control, disease surveillance, emergency response, health workforce development, availability of essential medicines, health infrastructure and digital health systems as key priority areas for 2027. According to him, the Annual Operational Plan is more than a document, describing it as a roadmap that translates government policies and strategic priorities into clear activities, measurable targets, defined responsibilities, timelines and resource requirements. He urged participants to draw on reliable health data, evidence and lessons from previous implementation cycles to develop plans that are realistic, properly costed, measurable and implementable. The Commissioner also called for honesty and objectivity in assessing previous performance, urging stakeholders to critically examine what worked, what did not work, the challenges encountered and what needs to be done differently. He stressed that successful implementation of the AOP would require adequate financing, strong coordination, effective monitoring and accountability. “Every activity contained in the AOP should have a clearly identified responsible institution, measurable indicators, realistic targets, timelines and an identified source of funding,” he said. Dr. Buma further called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, Local Government Authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities, stressing the need to coordinate resources and minimise duplication of efforts. “The true test of the Plan will not be the quality of the document we produce at this workshop, but the measurable improvements it delivers in our health facilities and communities,” he stated. The Commissioner commended the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, Executive Governor of Taraba State, for his commitment to strengthening the health system and ensuring access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare services for residents of the state. He expressed optimism that, through collective effort and renewed commitment, Taraba would build a stronger, more resilient and responsive health system capable of improving health outcomes and the quality of life of its people. Earlier, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Pharm. Solomon D. Angyu, said the workshop provided an important opportunity to review the Ministry’s achievements, identify gaps and challenges, and harmonise practical priorities for the coming year. He urged participants to actively contribute to the development of a plan that reflects the realities and health needs of the state. Speaking on the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) programme, the State Health Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Desk Officer, Pharm. Reuben Nwunuji, highlighted how the 2027 AOP would support the state in delivering on the HOPE Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs). Pharm. Nwunuji noted that achieving the required results and accessing associated incentives would require the state to focus resources on areas of critical need and prioritise interventions capable of delivering measurable improvements. He reminded participants that collective health-sector goals must take precedence over individual Departmental Annual Plans (DAPs), stressing that LGA and facility AOPs are important instruments for translating state-level priorities into tangible results at the grassroots. In separate goodwill messages, representatives of UNICEF, Helen Keller International (HKI) and Chigari Foundation encouraged participants to contribute actively, openly and constructively to the planning process. They emphasised the importance of producing an AOP that is practical, affordable, results-oriented, and responsive to the health needs of the people of Taraba State. The three-day workshop brought together key stakeholders from the State Ministry of Health, Primary Health Care Development Agency, health-related agencies, Local Government Authorities, development partners and other relevant institutions to harmonise, review and finalise the state’s 2027 health sector plans. The workshop is expected to provide a clear and coordinated roadmap for implementation, resource allocation, and performance monitoring across the health sector in 2027.