Addis Ababa, Feb. 17, 2024 – President Bola Tinubu has called on African leaders to collaborate with international bodies to build a viable healthcare sector in the continent.
He said this on Saturday at the Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tinubu, who was just appointed African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, said that effective collaboration with the rest of the world would help to tackle existential health challenges in the continent.
He said this would would not merely be a strategic choice, but a moral imperative.
“Together, we can catalyze meaningful change and unlock new opportunities for innovation and impact in our continent. Not Africa in isolation, but a global Africa, engaged in respectful and well-considered partnerships with the rest of the world.
“Our continent still grapples with numerous health issues that require urgent attention.
“Infectious diseases remain a significant burden, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and cholera, and threats of re-emerging infectious diseases that can devastate communities and entire economies.
“Access to essential healthcare services remain limited, especially in many rural areas, due to factors such as inadequate infrastructure, financial barriers, and more seriously, an acute shortage of trained manpower that is aggravated by workforce migration to wealthier countries.
“Noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, are on the rise in our continent, further straining healthcare systems that are already struggling to cope.
“There still remains the critical need to address maternal and child health, as high maternal and child mortality rates continue to claim precious lives.” (GBN)
