By Olivia Ambrose, JKNewsMedia Intern
ACCESS TO essential healthcare services remains a major challenge in Africa, threatening the continent’s progress, economic growth, and social stability.
Without a robust healthcare system, millions of Africans continue to face barriers to quality medical care.
At a High-Level Meeting on Domestic Health Financing in Africa, held on the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, called for sustainable financing to strengthen the continent’s healthcare systems.
Hosted by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the meeting brought together African leaders, donor agencies, and funding partners to discuss strategies for mobilising and efficiently utilising resources.
Senator Tinubu stressed that Africa’s economic prosperity depends on the health of its people.
She noted that recent policy changes in the United States had exacerbated funding gaps, making it imperative for African nations to seek homegrown solutions.
“Africa cannot continue to rely solely on donor funding and foreign aid, which, although helpful, are often unpredictable and unsustainable,” she said.
Nigeria’s First Lady highlighted the need for innovative financing strategies, advocating for mechanisms that ensure citizens can access quality healthcare without financial hardship.
She urged African governments to honour the Abuja Declaration by allocating at least 15% of their national budgets to health.
She also emphasised the importance of expanding health insurance coverage, establishing health endowment funds, and encouraging investments from the African diaspora.
Drawing from her role as the Global and National Stop TB Champion, Senator Tinubu stressed how First Ladies across Africa could leverage their positions to mobilise resources from governments, private sectors, and donor agencies.
She also called for greater accountability and transparency in the utilisation of healthcare funds to maximise their impact.
The meeting also featured contributions from Presidents and Heads of State from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Barbados, alongside representatives from donor agencies and funding partners.
They collectively emphasised the need for Africa to develop its own healthcare solutions through investments in research, pharmaceuticals, technology, manpower, and sustainable financing models.
