First Lady calls for sustainable health financing in Africa

Without a strong healthcare system that ensures millions of Africans have access to basic healthcare services, the continent's goals for development, economic expansion, and social stability will continue to be challenging to fulfil. On the fringes of the 38th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Rwandan President Paul Kagame organised a high-level meeting on domestic health financing in Africa, where First Lady Oluremi Tinubu made this statement.

According to a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, First Lady Tinubu called for a sustainable financing that ensures efficient mobilization and utilization of resources for both short, medium, and long-term impact.

She explained that achieving a wealthy continent is largely dependent on the health of the people, and with the impending funding gaps occasioned by recent policy changes in the United States, the African continent must look inward for sustainable solution

Sharing Nigeria’s perspective on the issue, she harped on the need for a health system that guarantees access to quality health services without imposing financial hardships.

Africa cannot continue to rely solely on donor funding and foreign aid, which, although helpful, are often unpredictable and unsustainable. Instead, we must develop innovative financing strategies tailored to our unique challenges and circumstances,” she said.

The First Lady pointed out that her role as the Global and National Stop TB Champion mirrors the role that other First Ladies, leveraging their position and platform, can play in resources mobilization for health from government, the private sector and donor agencies

Given the increasing funding gap for health on the continent, I urge us all to come together and commit to advocating for increased national health budgets. 

“In line with the Abuja Declaration, our governments should allocate at least 15% of their budgetary allocations to health. We must also support innovative financing mechanisms and explore sustainable models, such as expanding health insurance coverage, health endowment funds, and investments from the African diaspora. 

Accountability and transparency must be ensured, as funds allocated to health must be used efficiently and effectively”, she said.

Global and regional perspectives on domestic health financing in Africa and its contributions to the global agenda were also explored by Presidents and Heads of State of other nations present, including those of Rwanda, Ethiopia, Botswana, Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Barbados, donor agencies and funding partners.

They were unequivocal that Africa must begin to look inwards for homegrown solutions to its health care needs which include research, medications, technology, improved manpower and importantly, funding if it will be able to keep its citizens productive and prosperous.

The high-level meeting, on domestic health financing, organized by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa.