By Brighton Chiseva
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has called for the 2027 National Health Budget to move beyond allocations on paper to actual disbursements that strengthen primary health care, the health workforce and equity.
In its Position Paper titled “Financing a Health System That Reaches Everyone”, CWGH presents 11 priority asks consolidated from communities, Village Health Workers, youth leaders and stakeholders.
On financing, CWGH says the challenge was not just increasing the allocation but ensuring the money is predictable, protected and actually released.
It said the 2026 budget allocated ZiG30.42 billion to Health, but only about ZiG9.5 billion had been spent by mid-year.”The financing challenge is not simply about increasing the amount allocated to health.
It is also about predictability, protection, disbursement, utilisation and accountability.” Reads part of the statement.
The organization called for progress towards the 15% Abuja target, stronger domestic resource mobilisation and planning for declining external support, with the 2026 Budget projecting about US$280 million from development partners, including through the proposed National Health Fund.
On primary health care and referral systems, CWGH wants more resources directed to PHC, rural facilities and community-level services so people access care closer to home, while fixing emergency transport.
It says most districts rely on one ambulance for both referrals and administration.
“A health system is only as strong as its ability to provide the right care at the right level and at the right time,” reads part of the position paperOn the health workforce, which is the headline priority, CWGH demands recruitment, retention and equitable distribution of workers, especially in rural areas, and the formal integration of Village Health Workers onto the government payroll with allowances, uniforms, transport and supervision.
Some VHWs cover 500 households.”There is a need to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the health workforce, particularly to secure adequate numbers of health professionals in remote areas.
” Reads the statementAcross all priorities, CWGH insists allocations must translate into services:”Resources should reach communities on time. Allocations should be matched by implementation and accountability.” Reads the statement.
