Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has officially launched two major digital health initiatives, the Electronic Medical Records for Secondary Healthcare Facilities (EMR4SHF) and the Human Resources for Health (HRH) Database.

 

The launch ceremony, held over the weekend in Jalingo, was flagged off by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bodiya Gbansheya Buma, who represented the governor.

 

Governor Kefas described the initiative as a significant milestone in digitizing healthcare delivery and strengthening the management of health personnel across the state’s secondary health institutions. He stressed that embracing technology is key to driving efficiency, improving service quality, and making healthcare more accessible to citizens.

 

According to him, the EMR4SHF platform will streamline patient documentation, improve coordination among healthcare providers, and ensure accurate, up-to-date medical records. On the other hand, the HRH database will centralize data on workforce deployment, performance, and training needs, thereby boosting planning and decision-making across the health sector.

 

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to a people-centered healthcare system, Kefas called on stakeholders to support the sustainability of the digital platforms.

 

Speaking at the event, Dr. Garba Danjuma, Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Health Services Management Board (HSMB), explained that both tools form part of the newly developed Electronic Data Management System (EDMS). Built on a secure platform and hosted at the HSMB headquarters in Jalingo, the EDMS features a live dashboard and centralized database accessible to authorized stakeholders for planning, monitoring, and decision-making.

 

Danjuma noted that the EDMS will deliver multiple benefits, including integration of workforce and service delivery indicators for performance tracking, real-time data on staff postings and training, capacity building for HSMB personnel, centralized reporting with automated dashboards, and remote access for stakeholders to monitor facility performance across the state.

 

“This initiative marks a critical milestone in our journey toward digital transformation and improved governance in the health sector,” he said.

 

With the launch, Taraba State joins the growing list of Nigerian states adopting digital tools to strengthen healthcare governance, improve accountability, and ensure evidence-based service delivery.