Stakeholders in Taraba State have come together to advocate for universal health coverage, emphasizing that no family should be driven into poverty due to medical expenses. The Taraba Universal Health Coverage Forum, launched recently in Jalingo, aims to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all residents of the state.
The high cost of healthcare, particularly essential services and medicines, remains a significant barrier to accessing quality care, according to participants. Over 100 million people worldwide are pushed into extreme poverty annually due to healthcare-related expenses, while approximately 800 million people lack access to essential health services.
Dr. Danjuma K. Adda, Founder and CEO of the Centre for Initiative Development, convened the forum, which highlighted the need for urgent reforms to address these challenges. “No family should be driven into poverty due to medical expenses,” Dr. Adda said. “We must work together to build a health system that protects all residents of Taraba from financial hardship when they seek care.”
The forum unveiled a declaration outlining the state’s commitment to improving healthcare access, strengthening service delivery, and shielding residents from the financial burden of medical care. The declaration emphasizes the need for equitable, inclusive, and responsive health systems.
Key challenges hindering access to healthcare in the state include high out-of-pocket costs, long distances to health facilities, transportation difficulties, poor health worker attitudes, and weak referral systems. Dr. Adda called for the enactment of laws and policies that protect citizens from unaffordable healthcare costs while prioritizing equity in service delivery.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Harmony Chufor, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful. “Healthcare should not be a privilege for the few, but a fundamental right for all,” Dr. Chufor stated. Representatives from the World Health Organization, the State Health Service Management Board, and civil society organizations expressed support for the initiative, pledging to collaborate in addressing barriers to healthcare access.
The Taraba UHC Forum represents a unified approach to tackling the systemic challenges of healthcare delivery in the state. Through sustained advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy dialogue, the forum aims to build a resilient health system that leaves no one behind. For residents of Taraba State, the launch of the forum offers renewed hope for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable healthcare future.
