At the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, African policymakers see a chance to change how the continent funds health. Obinna Ebirim says countries must press for fairer partnerships with donors and hold leaders accountable for health spending. He notes that international aid has been vital for malaria and HIV but that heavy reliance creates vulnerability when funding shifts or ends.
Ebirim describes concrete problems: disruptions in HIV, TB, malaria and nutrition programmes, commodity shortages, some hospitals reducing services and donor-supported health workers losing jobs. In Nigeria, foreign partners fund large parts of vaccination campaigns, disease surveillance and health worker incentives. Many primary healthcare centres use ad hoc staff, sometimes called volunteer health workers, whose pay depends on donor projects.
He also points to two structural weaknesses: a shortage of doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers, and poor infrastructure in some hospitals without reliable electricity, running water or basic supplies. As an example of policy action, the National Health Fellows Programme recruited 774 young people, one per local government area, and employed many after their fellowship.
Difficult words
- financing — providing money for a specific purpose.health financing
- sustainable — able to be maintained over a long time.
- support — to help or give assistance.supports
- commitment — a promise to do something.
- opportunities — a chance for a favorable situation.
- inadequate — not enough or insufficient.
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Discussion questions
- How can countries work together to improve health financing?
- What steps can be taken to retain healthcare workers?
- Why is it important for governments to prioritize health funding?
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