The Cross River State Ministry of Health (SMoH), in collaboration with USAID funded Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases | East (Act|East), launched a Neglected Tropical Diseases Health Financing Landscape and Fund Flow Analysis for Cross River State at a dissemination workshop held on August 9-10, 2023 at the Monty Suites hotel in Calabar, Nigeria. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors committed to enhancing healthcare and combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the state.
The study revealed that overall, health financing in Cross River State is reliant on federal level resources, but NTD services are heavily dependent on donor funding.
Two main recommendations were put forth to improve sustainability of NTD service in the state:
- Increase the proportion of the state capital health budget allocated to Neglected Tropical Diseases.
- Engage in strategic advocacy to key stakeholders, including health ministry executives, legislators, and executive council members, to mobilize domestic funding for NTD programs at the state and federal levels.
The workshop participants emphasized the need for collaborative efforts in implementing these recommendations for better resource management and improved health outcomes. Cross River State policy makers reiterated their commitment to incorporate the study’s insights into its health policies and strategies, ensuring a sustainable approach to combating NTDs, and fostering the overall well-being of its communities.
Results for Development (R4D), a key partner in Act | East, provided technical support and research expertise for this study.
