Ilorin: The Kwara Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has conducted a training program for stakeholders from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, focusing on health financing.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the training spanned three days and was part of the European Union-Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU-SARAH) project. This initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of health financing systems and operational guidelines.
Dr. Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, addressed the event, explaining that the capacity-building workshop aimed to train, refresh, and update stakeholders on financing guidelines. A key focus was placed on the management of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) at the facility level. The training sought to align stakeholders with the Federal Ministry of Health’s expectations for BHCPF implementation. Dr. El-Imam emphasized the importance of cascading the knowledge gained and ensuring its proper implementation across all levels.
Dr. Oluwatosin Kolade, a Sexual Reproductive Health System Specialist from the UNFPA Country Office in Nigeria, also spoke at the event. He highlighted that the training enhanced understanding of health systems and the roles in financing. Dr. Kolade urged the stakeholders to focus on the implementation and approach surrounding the BHCPF programme. He also revealed that there has been a revision of the operational guidelines.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that stakeholders, including Hajia Rihanat Sulaiman, Chairperson of Heads of Departments of Local Governments, commended the initiative. They cited challenges related to funding and workforce migration. The event saw participation from BHCPF steering committee members, health ministry officials, and representatives from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria.