The first National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS) in Burkina Faso, which commenced on March 25 under the patronage of Burkinabè Premier Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo in Ouagadougou, successfully concluded on March 27.
This high-level gathering convened prominent political figures, both domestic and international experts, alongside various technical and financial partners (PTF). The discussions revolved around critical challenges associated with mobilizing essential resources and lessening reliance on external funding for public health initiatives across Africa. A key objective for the organizers was also to “enhance the health system’s resilience in the face of crises” throughout the African continent.
During the forum’s opening day, March 25, Mohamed Janabi, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, presented an overview of the health financing landscape in Africa, highlighting that a significant 25% of health expenditures in the region originate from external sources.
Premier Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo subsequently affirmed that “health sovereignty represents a core pillar of the national transformation project” underway in Burkina Faso, which has been engaged in a Popular Progressive Revolution (RPP) since September 2022. He further underscored his country’s executive commitment to “independently ensure the financing of its health system.”
