Dwindling Partner funding: Benue TWG calls for innovative, sustainable local approaches to healthcare financing

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

As external and development-partner funding continues to decline, the Benue State Health Domestic Resource Mobilisation Technical Working Group (TWG) has called for innovative and sustainable approaches to healthcare financing.

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche made this call during a Technical Working Group meeting held in Makurdi.

Ogwuche who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Cephas Hough, said the State must strengthen its capacity to finance and sustain its health priorities.

Dr. Ogwuche said this requires stronger planning, budgeting, financial management, accountability, monitoring and evaluation, adding that available resources must be used more efficiently to achieve better health outcomes.

The Health Commissioner noted that the Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia-led administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to healthcare transformation through investments in infrastructure, equipment, primary healthcare facilities and human resources.

He said the priority should now be to expand funding for the sector while ensuring that every naira invested delivers tangible benefits to the people of Benue State.

Ogwuche described the TWG as an important platform for developing practical financing strategies and strengthening collaboration among government, the private sector, development partners, civil society organizations, professional associations, communities and faith-based organizations.

He stated that the government alone cannot finance and deliver every aspect of healthcare, making strategic partnerships essential to achieving sustainable results.

The Programme Manager of the Benue State AIDS Control Agency, Mr. Terna Akpaiyo, said stronger local financing is necessary to sustain the gains recorded through years of partner-supported HIV/AIDS interventions.

He described the issue as not only a financial concern, but also a matter of governance and development.

The meeting reviewed health-sector budget performance and financial gaps, health insurance enrollment and disbursement challenges, as well as opportunities for greater private-sector participation in healthcare financing.

The Health Domestic Resource Mobilisation Technical Working Group is an initiative that supports the Governor Alia Administration’s commitment to building a resilient and sustainable health system that can continue to deliver quality healthcare despite changing patterns of external support.