ACOMIN Yobe Seeks Overhaul of Healthcare System as HIV, TB, Malaria Fight Faces Critical Gaps

The Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has sounded a clarion call for comprehensive healthcare reforms in Yobe State, warning that persistent systemic weaknesses are undermining years of investment in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM).

At the organization's first media briefing of 2026 held Tuesday in Damaturu, stakeholders from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, media houses, and community groups converged to dissect why progress remains elusive despite substantial funding from the Global Fund and government programs.

Mukhtar Mohammed Shehu, Yobe State ACOMIN Program Officer, placed community-led monitoring at the center of the conversation, describing it as a vital mechanism for ensuring that international funds are properly utilized at the grassroots level.

With 18 active community groups currently operating comprising journalists, fund managers, representatives from the National Malaria Control Program, and Yobe State Public Health Authority officials ,the initiative aims to create a transparent pipeline from donor to beneficiary.

"We cannot afford to lose sight of where every naira goes," Shehu emphasized, underscoring the importance of local vigilance in health program implementation.

Despite acknowledging measurable progress, Shehu did not mince words about the barriers that continue to derail ATM interventions across the state includes;weak referral pathways that force patients to navigate fragmented care systems,frequent treatment disruptions that compromise patient outcomes,chronic understaffing of trained healthcare professionals,inadequate facility infrastructure limiting service delivery capacity,restricted access to testing and treatment services and economic hardship and transportation challenges preventing communities from reaching health facilities

"Evidence generated through Community Led Monitoring shows that gaps in service delivery continue to affect health outcomes in many communities," Shehu warned, urging stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric to concrete action.

His roadmap for improvement included strengthening referral networks, guaranteeing uninterrupted medication supplies, investing in healthcare workforce development, expanding community-based screening, and dismantling financial barriers to care.

In a startling revelation, Kabiru Sumaila, a program officer from COCOSOHDI, reported that focus group discussions uncovered widespread ignorance among locals about the availability of free ATM services.

"The community engagement revealed many residents simply did not know these services are provided at no cost," Sumaila explained.

His team used the opportunity to educate locals while also advising them to maintain clean environments to reduce mosquito breeding sites—a simple yet effective intervention that remains underutilized.

The briefing also provided a platform for other organizations to share their experiences. Abubakar Adamu of GESDI, Amos Misheli of Hope Interactive, and Mohammed Kachallah of Freedom Initiative for Advancement of Humanity each presented updates on their ongoing programs, highlighting both successes and operational challenges.

Their collective presence underscored the multi-sectoral approach being deployed across Yobe State an approach that brings together diverse expertise and resources in the common fight against preventable and treatable diseases.

As the briefing concluded, one message resonated clearly: international funding and government initiatives alone cannot succeed without robust community engagement, transparent oversight, and a healthcare system that works for those who need it most.

For the people of Yobe State, the question is no longer whether resources exist, but whether those resources will finally translate into accessible, reliable, and effective healthcare services that save lives and build healthier communities.