Stakeholders under the Taraba Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forum have insisted that no family should be forced into poverty because of medical bills, calling for urgent reforms to make healthcare affordable and accessible to all residents of the state.
The call was made over the weekend in Jalingo during the official launch of the Taraba UHC Forum, held as part of activities marking the UHC 2025 commemoration.
Participants stressed that the rising cost of healthcare, especially essential services and medicines, continues to prevent many families from accessing quality care when they need it most.
The forum was convened by the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Initiative Development (CFID), Dr. Danjuma K. Adda, who also serves as an Advisory Group Member of the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 representing Africa. He revealed that over 100 million people globally are pushed into extreme poverty every year due to healthcare-related expenses.
Dr. Adda further noted that about 800 million people worldwide still lack access to essential health services, with many forced to rely on out-of-pocket payments that worsen their financial hardship.
“No family should be driven into poverty because of medical expenses. We must work together to build a health system that protects all residents of Taraba from financial hardship when they seek care,” he said.
He explained that the newly inaugurated UHC Forum would serve as a strategic platform for collaboration, policy dialogue, and collective action aimed at achieving universal health coverage in Taraba State. According to him, the forum’s core goal is to ensure that every child receives essential healthcare services and that mothers access care with dignity.
At the event, stakeholders unveiled a UHC Forum Declaration, reaffirming Taraba State’s commitment to expanding healthcare access, strengthening service delivery, and protecting residents from the financial burden of medical care. The declaration emphasized the need for equitable, inclusive, and responsive health systems.
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Dr. Adda identified key challenges limiting healthcare access in the state, including high out-of-pocket costs, long distances to health facilities, transportation barriers, poor health worker attitudes, and weak referral systems. He called for the enactment of laws and policies that prioritize equity and protect citizens from unaffordable healthcare expenses.
He also underscored the need to strengthen primary healthcare, expand financial protection mechanisms, amplify community voices, and ensure health services are people-centered and responsive.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Harmony Chufor, praised the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful. He said the forum would play a vital role in ensuring healthcare services reach every part of Taraba State.
“Healthcare should not be a privilege for the few but a fundamental right for all. This forum is crucial to ensuring that no one, regardless of location or economic status, is excluded from accessing affordable and quality healthcare,” Dr. Chufor said.
Representatives of the World Health Organization in Taraba, the State Health Service Management Board, the State Contributory Health Insurance Agency, and various civil society organisations also pledged support for the CFID-led initiative, committing to work together to remove barriers to healthcare access.
The National Council of Women Societies highlighted the critical role of women in health advocacy, particularly in promoting better healthcare access for mothers and children. Their involvement, they said, would help ensure that the needs of women and children are reflected in health policies.
Observers noted that the Taraba UHC Forum represents a coordinated and strategic effort to address systemic challenges in healthcare delivery across 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 as stakeholders commit to making universal health coverage a reality.
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