Stakeholders in the Taraba Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum have collectively asserted that no family should be impoverished due to medical expenses, highlighting the urgent necessity for reforms to guarantee affordable and accessible healthcare for all state residents. This declaration was made in Jalingo over the weekend during the official inauguration of the Taraba UHC Forum, which was held to mark the UHC 2025 commemoration. Participants noted that the expensive nature of healthcare, especially for vital services and medications, remains a primary obstacle preventing many from receiving quality care. The forum, organized by Dr. (Prince) Danjuma K. Adda, Founder and CEO of the Centre for Initiative Development (CFID) and an Advisory Group Member for the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 representing Africa, pointed out that annually, over 100 million people globally are pushed into severe poverty because of healthcare costs, with approximately 800 million lacking access to essential services and many forced to rely on out-of-pocket payments that worsen their financial distress. Dr. Adda emphasized, “No family should be driven into poverty due to medical expenses. We must work together to build a health system that protects all residents of Taraba from financial hardship when they seek care,” explaining that the new UHC Forum is a strategic platform intended to enhance cooperation, foster policy discussions, and drive collaborative efforts towards achieving universal health coverage in the state. He specified that the forum’s main goal is to ensure that every child in Taraba receives necessary health services and that mothers are able to access care with dignity. A UHC Forum Declaration was presented at the event, which outlined Taraba State’s commitment to increasing healthcare access, strengthening service provision, and protecting residents from the financial strain of medical treatment, stressing the need for health systems that are fair, inclusive, and responsive. Dr. Adda detailed various barriers to healthcare access in the state, including high out-of-pocket expenses, significant travel distances to facilities, transportation issues, negative health worker attitudes, and poor referral networks. He called for the implementation of laws and policies to safeguard citizens from unaffordable healthcare while prioritizing fairness in service delivery. He also underscored the critical importance of reinforcing primary healthcare, broadening financial protection mechanisms, elevating community input, and ensuring that health services effectively meet the needs of the population. Representing the Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Harmony Chufor, praised the initiative as timely and effective, stating that the forum will be crucial in extending healthcare services throughout the state. Dr. Chufor affirmed that healthcare should be a fundamental right for everyone, not just a privilege, and this forum is key to guaranteeing that no one is excluded from affordable, quality healthcare regardless of their location or economic standing. Representatives from organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) in Taraba, the State Health Service Management Board, the State Contributory Health Insurance Agency, and several civil society organizations also voiced their support for the CFID-led effort, promising to collaborate in addressing barriers to healthcare access statewide. The National Council of Women Societies emphasized the vital role of women in advocating for health, particularly in promoting better access for mothers and children, noting that their involvement in the forum is expected to ensure that the needs of women and children are properly addressed in health policies. The Taraba UHC Forum, according to observers, represents a cohesive and strategic approach to tackle the systemic issues in healthcare delivery in the state, aiming to build a robust health system that serves everyone through sustained advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy discussions. For Taraba State residents, the launch of the forum, as expressed by some participants, provides renewed hope for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable healthcare future, as stakeholders commit to making universal health coverage a reality.
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