The inaugural National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS) in Burkina Faso, which commenced on March 25 under the patronage of Burkinabè Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo in Ouagadougou, concluded its proceedings on March 27.
This significant high-level gathering convened a diverse assembly of political leaders, both domestic and international experts, and Technical and Financial Partners (PTF). Their collective focus centered on critical discussions concerning resource generation and strategies to lessen reliance on external funding for public health initiatives across the African continent. A core objective for the organizers was also to fortify the robustness of Africa’s health infrastructure against various crises.
During the forum’s opening day on March 25, Mohamed Janabi, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, provided a comprehensive overview of health financing in Africa. He highlighted a notable statistic: approximately one-fourth of all health expenditures within the region originate from foreign sources.
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo further articulated that health sovereignty stands as a pivotal element within Burkina Faso’s national transformation agenda, a process initiated with the Popular Progressive Revolution (RPP) in September 2022. He unequivocally reiterated the Burkinabè government’s unwavering commitment to independently fund its nation’s healthcare system.
