By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
The Acting Director‑General of the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA), Dr Kwande Solomon Dawal, inaugurated a 14‑member Grant Management Squad on Thursday, marking the agency’s first dedicated effort to secure external funding for its health‑insurance programmes. Dr Dawal explained that the decision was driven by a strategic focus on sustainability, which he described as threefold: structural or institutional, community, and financial. “Our desire to establish this squad is to deepen financial sustainability,” he said, emphasizing that grants—whether cash, in‑kind or technical—are essential to expanding coverage and protecting residents from financial risk .
He outlined the squad’s immediate tasks as “grant hunting” to attract donors who can support the agency’s equity health plan, a flagship scheme launched under Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang. The funding will be used to broaden the equity pool, enabling more poor and vulnerable citizens to be enrolled, and to procure ICT equipment and training for staff to improve service delivery across Plateau State. “We are out to ensure that every resident gains access to quality health care with financial risk protection,” Dr Dawal added, noting that the initiative complements the governor’s vision of universal health coverage.
Addressing concerns about the impact on subscribers, Dr Dawal highlighted the three universal‑coverage metrics the agency monitors: the proportion of the population covered, the breadth of services included, and the level of user fees at point of care. He indicated that successful grant acquisition could increase enrolment, expand the benefit package, and potentially reduce capitation fees—currently around ₦12,000—thereby easing the burden on vulnerable groups such as flat‑rate subscribers.
The squad’s terms of reference, as detailed in the agency’s briefing, set out objectives to identify and apply for grants, ensure donor compliance, and maintain a centralized grant repository. Comprising 11 core members and three support staff drawn from various departments, the team will operate on a lean, hybrid model with monthly meetings, working subgroups, and collaborative tools such as shared drives and task‑management platforms. The squad reports quarterly to PLASCHEMA management and will undergo an annual performance review.
In a separate interview, Albert Pam of WOCCI, CRADI praised the inauguration as a visionary step that positions PLASCHEMA as a model for other states. “The passion and visionary spirit shown by this agency in turning a small spark of grant funding into something that other states are beginning to admire is truly commendable,” he said, adding that the sky is “just the starting point” for PLASCHEMA’s ambitions.
Pam reiterated his organization’s full support for the squad, offering both technical expertise and collaborative resources. “We stand ready with our laptops and sharpened brains to work hand‑in‑hand with the team, ensuring they meet and exceed expectations,” he affirmed, underscoring a commitment to help the agency achieve its sustainability goals.
Speaking on behalf of the Grant Management Squad, team lead Stephen Sarpiya expressed gratitude for being selected among hundreds of staff. “We are delighted and pledge to put in all our effort to expand the agency’s funding base,” he said, emphasizing the team’s dedication to securing grants that will enhance PLASCHEMA’s mission of delivering universal health coverage to Plateau State residents.
