Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria has called on African leaders to look inwards and seek alternative means to financing their nations’ health systems.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 38th African Union Summit currently taking place at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the First Lady said over reliance on foreign aid is not a sustainable health financing mechanism, especially for the continent.
She said that it is important to note that Africa’s growth and social stability and development can be supported by a robust health system that ensures access to healthcare service deliveries for all.
A statement by Busola Kukoyi, the senior special assistant to the First Lady on media said, “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,” Tinubu said.
At the High-Powered meeting convened by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and attended by other African leaders, the Nigeria First Lady said a healthy continent translates to a wealthy continent.
She added, “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.
“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,” she said.
