Tinubu to African leaders: Make concrete policies to drive positive change in healthcare

President Bola Tinubu has asked African leaders to commit themselves to concrete actions and policies that would drive positive change in healthcare delivery within their countries.

Tinubu was recently appointed by the AU as champion for human resources for health and community health delivery partnership.

Speaking at the 37th ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia, on Saturday, Tinubu said Africa’s effective collaboration with the rest of the world to tackle existential health challenges is not merely a strategic choice, but a moral imperative.

The president said the continent must forge partnerships that transcend borders and sectors, leveraging on collective expertise, knowledge, resources, and the private sector to address the complex challenges confronting the health sector. 

He added that the challenges confronting the continent are too complex and multifaceted for one entity to tackle alone. 

“Together, we can catalyse 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,” Tinubu said.

“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.”

Tinubu further said addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach, involving robust investments in healthcare infrastructure, training, re-training, skilled manpower retention, improving access to essential medicines, and promoting preventive healthcare measures. 

The president linked the continent’s capacity to successfully address these problems with its ability to adopt a “whole-of-government approach”.

“For instance, a healthy population is essential for a thriving economy as it leads to increased productivity and reduced healthcare costs,” the president added.

“Similarly, education plays a crucial role in improving health outcomes by empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.”

Also, Tinubu said healthcare professionals are the backbone of the healthcare system, and as such, investments must be made not only in training but also in creating conducive environments that enable them to thrive.

“In our quest for universal health coverage, equity must be our central guiding principle,” he said.

“Health disparities, rooted in socio-economic inequality, gender discrimination, geographic isolation, and other systemic injustices, demand political will and targeted interventions to address them. 

“We must listen to the voices of marginalized communities, amplifying their concerns and aspirations as we strive to build more prosperous, just, and inclusive societies.”

‘NIGERIA ENHANCING HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY’

Using Nigeria as an example, Tinubu said: “We are making significant efforts, aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility, affordability, and quality for all citizens, irrespective of socio-economic standing. 

“This initiative is driven by a multi-faceted approach focusing on strengthening leadership and governance within the health sector, optimizing quality service delivery for efficiency and effectiveness. 

“The Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which I unveiled last December, stands as a pioneering endeavour, deployed through a sector-wide approach, to improve health outcomes at scale. 

“This initiative is strategically crafted to swiftly improve health indicators and unlock the economic potential embedded within Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.

“The federal government, under my leadership, has already signed a compact with state governments and development partners in this multi-stakeholder effort to improve health in Nigeria.”

Tinubu urged African leaders to commit to concrete actions and policies that will drive positive change in healthcare delivery within their respective countries and regions.