Group calls for funding, accountability in FCT health sector

A multi-sectoral health financing steering committee known as FCT Health Financing Equity and Investment TWG has called for improved funding and accountability in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) health sector.

The group made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its three-day capacity building workshop on Monday in Abuja.

The workshop, with the theme ‘Advocacy and Accountability for Improved Health Financing in the FCT Health Sector’, was organised in collaboration with Health Policy Plus, a nongovernmental organisation.

The group said the workshop was meant to make its members have strong voice to influence decisions made by policy makers in the health sector.

“This will ensure expansion of coverage of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme beyond the formal sector.

“We want a budget line created and funded for the Health Financing Unit to make its operations sustainable,” the communiqué read.

Dr M.B. Kawu, chairperson, FCT TWG, said the workshop was timely and beneficial.

“This is the first time I am able to clearly understand the role of advocacy for health financing and also how to do the advocacy, step by step,” Kawu said.

The communique also quoted Mr Obiora Ekwueme, Head, Debt Unit, FCT Treasury, who admitted that the budget mapping exercise of the workshop and other sessions was an eye opener.

It added that the workshop was practical and clear in its approach to finding lasting solutions to funding of the health sector.

The group, however, noted that domestic resource mobilisation, collaboration techniques, steps to smart advocacy and accountability fundamentals formed major parts that needed further assessment.

The TWG is composed of key government actors from strategic sectors in the FCT.

The actors include; directors from Health and Human Services, FCT Treasury, Economic Planning, Bureau of Statistics, private sector and development partners. (NAN)