By Femi Mustapha in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to institutionalize the Task Shifting and Task Sharing, TSTS, policy to address human resource challenges and expand access to quality healthcare.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, stated this at the closeout ceremony of the TSTS implementation program in Kaduna, speaking on behalf of Governor Uba Sani.
Balarabe, a public health physician, expressed appreciation to Pathfinder International, Impact Catalysts, and the Gates Foundation for their partnership in strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
She said that competent and adequately supported healthcare workers are fundamental to quality care, especially at the primary healthcare level, where citizens first access maternal, newborn, and child health services.
She noted that the administration realized early on that it could not wait decades to bridge the personnel gap and therefore adopted the TSTS policy as a bold and strategic response.
According to her, the initiative was implemented across 77 primary healthcare facilities in nine local governments, focusing on clinical mentorship, supportive supervision and workforce capacity strengthening.
She commended clinical mentors, mentees, health facility in-charges and state and local government teams for demonstrating that health system strengthening requires investment in people, not just infrastructure.
Balarabe stressed that the end of a project should not mean the end of its benefits, urging the Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Care Board to build on experiences and progressively expand the model.
She disclosed that the government has integrated TSTS protocols into its State Health Operational Plan and will continue to invest in training, supervision and commodities to sustain and scale gains.
In his keynote address, the Honorable Commissioner for Health said the closeout themed ‘Celebrating Achievements, Sharing Lessons, and Sustaining the Gains’ was to reflect on lessons and chart a sustainable pathway for TSTS.
He explained that task shifting involves the rational redistribution of tasks from highly specialized workers to those with shorter training. In contrast, task sharing enables collaborative care within the approved scope, stressing that it is not about lowering standards.
He noted that success depends on government leadership and support from development partners, but sustainability will be measured by what government institutions can maintain after funding ends.
He listed five priorities for sustainability: institutionalizing TSTS in policies and plans, integrating it into workforce planning and budgeting, sustaining the mentorship model, using evidence to guide scale-up, and strengthening monitoring and coordination.
In his remarks, the Gates Foundation Country Office representative, Uche Amaonwu, represented by Dr. Anthony Shamang, congratulated the state government and partners on the successful completion of the initiative.
He said the initiative aligns with the Foundation’s belief that every life has equal value, and commended the government for employing 1,800 healthcare workers annually in primary healthcare to close the human resource gap.
He recalled that a 2016 assessment showed PHCs needed over 16,000 workers but had fewer than 5,000, operating at 30 percent capacity, until Governor Uba Sani committed to annual recruitment and urged stakeholders to build on lessons to sustain progress.
The event was attended by representatives of Pathfinder International and Impact Catalysts, professional health associations, regulatory bodies, clinical mentors and mentees, development partners, and members of the media.
