Israel Oluyemi
The Kwara State has strengthened health financing capacity across its Ministries, Departments and Agencies following a three-day training programme in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund under the EU-SARAH initiative.
The workshop brought together health sector stakeholders to improve knowledge and practice around financing systems, with special focus on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Organisers said the programme aimed to improve how MDAs apply health financing guidelines and to support the effective implementation of national health funding policies.
Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, said the training was designed to “train, refresh and update” stakeholders on financing procedures.
She added that “emphasis was placed on Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) management at the facility level,” noting that the sessions aligned participants with federal requirements for implementation.
El-Imam further urged stakeholders to cascade the knowledge gained and ensure consistent application across all health service levels.
UNFPA health systems specialist Oluwatosin Kolade said the training improved understanding of health financing roles and strengthened implementation capacity.
Kolade also noted that revised operational guidelines for the BHCPF programme were introduced during the sessions.
Participants from local government health departments, NHIA, and primary healthcare agencies highlighted challenges such as funding constraints and workforce shortages.
They described the intervention as a timely effort to improve efficiency and coordination in health financing across the state.