The inaugural National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS) in Burkina Faso, which commenced on March 25 in Ouagadougou under the patronage of Burkinabè Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, concluded on March 27.
This high-level gathering brought together political leaders, both domestic and international experts, and Technical and Financial Partners (TFPs). Discussions centered on critical issues such as resource mobilization and lessening reliance on foreign funding for public health initiatives across Africa. A key objective for the organizers was also to bolster the African continent’s health system resilience against various crises.
On March 25, Mohamed Janabi, the Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organization (WHO), presented an overview of the health financing landscape in Africa. He highlighted that a significant portion—one-quarter—of health expenditures within the region originates from external sources.
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo further emphasized that health sovereignty is a cornerstone of Burkina Faso’s national transformation agenda, a nation that has been pursuing a Popular Progressive Revolution (PPR) since September 2022. He reiterated the government’s steadfast commitment to independently finance its national health system.
