The Plateau State Government has announced that its Free Mega Medical Outreach treated 17,603 patients across the three senatorial zones of the state, recording no deaths throughout the exercise, including among patients who underwent surgical operations.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Ba’amlong, disclosed this on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during a press briefing at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall in Jos.
Ba’amlong described the intervention, initiated by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, as one of the most significant government-led healthcare programs in the state, aimed at improving access to quality and affordable medical services regardless of residents’ economic circumstances.
He said the outreach exceeded its initial target of 6,000 beneficiaries by approximately 193 per cent, reaching nearly three times the projected number.
According to the commissioner, the exercise was conducted across the three senatorial zones to ensure equitable access to healthcare services.
The Central and Southern zones held their outreaches from October 19 to 30, while the Northern zone’s exercise ran from October 26 to November 6, 2026.
Participating facilities included General Hospitals Mangu and Pankshin in the Central Zone; General Hospitals Shendam and Langtang in the Southern Zone; and Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, General and Trauma Hospital, Riyom, and Cottage Hospital, Bassa, in the Northern Zone.
The services provided included free medical consultations, laboratory investigations, eye examinations and surgeries, dental care, major and minor surgical operations, health education and enrolment into the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA).
Presenting the consolidated figures, Ba’amlong disclosed that the program recorded 5,033 eye consultations, distributed 3,588 pairs of eyeglasses, performed 390 cataract surgeries, and conducted 4,857 laboratory investigations.
In dental care, 1,334 consultations were recorded, alongside 893 scaling and polishing procedures, 263 fillings, 867 extractions, 541 dentures and two gum treatments.
He added that 457 people were enrolled in PLASCHEMA during the exercise.
A major component of the intervention was the performance of 724 surgical operations, comprising 151 major and 573 minor procedures, including 26 Caesarean deliveries that resulted in the birth of healthy babies.
The commissioner said major procedures performed included myomectomies, hysterectomies, prostatectomies, thyroidectomies, Caesarean sections and various orthopaedic operations.
He emphasized that the absence of recorded deaths throughout the exercise, particularly during surgical procedures, reflected the coordination and commitment of the medical teams to safe healthcare delivery.
Ba’amlong noted that the intervention had relieved thousands of residents of the financial burden associated with accessing essential medical and surgical services.
He, however, clarified that the completion of the general medical outreach did not mark the end of the program, as the government was preparing to commence another phase focused on specialized and high-technology surgical procedures.
According to him, the next phase will run for three weeks at Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Potters Specialist Hospital, Jos.
The planned interventions include advanced orthopaedic operations, neurological and neurosurgical procedures, specialized urological treatments, and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeries for patients requiring complex medical attention.
He said the extension would enable more residents to access specialized treatments without bearing the substantial costs ordinarily associated with such procedures.
The commissioner commended Governor Mutfwang for his commitment to improving healthcare delivery and the well-being of Plateau residents.
He also acknowledged the contributions of management and staff of participating health facilities, medical professionals, volunteers, local government chairmen, traditional and religious leaders, community stakeholders, security agencies, development partners and the media.
Ba’amlong described the achievement as more than a collection of statistics, saying it represented thousands of lives impacted, families relieved of financial burdens, people whose sight had been restored and patients who had benefited from life-changing medical interventions.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to sustaining the program’s achievements and advancing Universal Health Coverage across the state.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Samuel Aliyu Tsoho, appreciated Governor Mutfwang for his commitment and investment in the healthcare intervention.
Tsoho also commended the commissioner, the outreach coordinator, Dr Mann, zonal coordinators, heads of health agencies, participating health facilities, medical personnel, ministry staff, drivers and members of the media for their contributions to the successful implementation of the program.
Credit: Lengmi Disem Joshua Lumi
