The President, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, American global entrepreneur, Bill Gates, yesterday gave a damning verdict on the state and scope of health care in Nigeria observing that the country spends a scandalous $10 per head on health each year.

He said, compared to an equally paltry average of $31 obtainable in sub-Sahara as a whole, the authorities in Africa’s most populous country spend far less to take care of the well-being of their citizens.

Delivering the shock verdict, Gates said, “It may not surprise you that Nigeria’s state and federal governments only spend the equivalent of $10 per person on health each year, and $31 in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole”.

The technopreneur advised that Nigerian leaders need to make more financial commitment toward improving healthcare and education in the country.

“Leaders need to make a much bigger financial commitment, focused most of all on improving primary health systems.

“Making sure clinics are well-staffed and supplied, making sure children get the vaccines they need—all of this is absolutely essential to improving health and opportunity and unlocking all of Nigeria’s potential,” he implored.

Gates spoke in Lagos at the Youth Innovation Forum themed ‘Advancing Africa: Unleashing the Power of Youth in Science and Innovation’ co-hosted by the Lagos Business School and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), in partnership with Africa.com and Channels Television.

The once-the-world’s richest man, however, said there will be opportunities for youths to make a difference in the world because of the unprecedented potential of new technologies.

According to him, talented young people are a powerful asset when it comes to making the world a better place.

“Even though Nigerians are still facing many of the challenges I talked about five years ago, and you’re having to contend with economic instability and security threats, I have a lot of faith that your generation will persevere and improve lives throughout Nigeria and beyond,” Gates added.

his words: “Nigeria has one of the biggest youth populations in the world, and it’s growing fast. That represents a lot of potential skills and passion to solve big problems.”
Gates also noted that for youths to shine, they need support, “starting with a great education”.

“In this capacity, Nigeria has a strong foundation, with some of the best educational and research institutions across the continent. In Africa, Nigeria is a hub for venture capital and financial technology,” he noted.

He also observed that, as a continental giant, Nigeria has many exciting innovations in the global pipeline that are going to improve lives locally.

“They’re going to prevent infectious diseases, provide life-saving interventions for mothers and babies, make food more nutritious, and give women more convenient contraception options.

“Down the road, artificial intelligence will be applied in ways that will bring quality healthcare and education to more people.”
Gates said despite rapid innovations, the progress has not been distributed equitably.

He harped, “I’m a huge believer in the power of science and innovation to help people lead long, healthy lives. But one of the big lessons I’ve learned is that the benefits don’t automatically reach everyone.

“To do that, the people creating new breakthroughs, the people funding them, and the people getting them into the world, all need to prioritise equity.”

On the content of his discussion with the Nigerian president earlier in the week, he said, “The message that I shared with President Tinubu on Monday, and what I’ll share with other leaders tomorrow, is that they must invest in equitable solutions—and invest in the people who are working on them.

“Nigeria is full of talented people with a lot of potential. But it can be very hard to fulfill that potential if you don’t have access to the most basic building blocks of life.

“I’ll also be talking with Nigeria’s government leaders about increasing commitments to agriculture and digital financial systems.

“Young people in Nigeria have shown how passionate they are about progress. I know that you will encourage your leaders to follow through on these kinds of commitments.”

Gates added that the foundation he co-chairs remains committed to the future of Nigeria.

…Tinubu pledges to reverse ugly trend

The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s healthcare reform agenda will prioritize Universal Health Coverage.

Dr. Anas-Kolo made this known yesterday when stakeholders, including donor agencies, development partners, Civil Society Organisations, and the media, had a health policy dialogue in Abuja.

The dialogue was tagged “Setting UHC and health security priorities in the new dispensation: Getting it right from the outset.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), UHC means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.

“It covers the full continuum of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course,” WHO noted.
Anas-Kolo noted that President Tinubu’s blueprint on health, which he presented during his electioneering campaigns, would be implemented.

Anas said this in Abuja, at a Health Policy Dialogue with the theme: ‘Setting UHC and Health Security Priorities in the New Dispensation: Getting it Right from the Outset’.

“The President’s objective was to bridge the divide between the underprivileged and accessing quality health

care by providing financial security,” she said.

Also speaking, the WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, said the commitment of the administration to adopt recommendations in the Presidential Health Reform Committee report is a good starting point to ‘get it right from the outset’.

Dr Mulombo said implementing health governance, leadership and institutional reforms, health infrastructure upgrades, pharmaceutical supply chain and research and development, health service delivery, pandemic preparedness and response, health financing system reforms, and human resources will strengthen the health system.

“Implementation of these components will see the health system strengthened to meet present day challenges, including reorientation of Primary Health Care for improved service delivery, improved preparedness and response to pandemics and other health emergencies, and rethinking of solutions to the huge challenge of ensuring adequate, skilled and well distributed health care workers in the midst of rising migration of critical professionals,” he said.

On his part, the Chatham House Executive Director, Centre for UHC, Dr. Rob Yates, said his organisation will support the government in achieving the UHC agenda.

According to him, political commitment is critical to achieving the UHC.

The Chair of the Health Sector Reform Coalition, Chika Offor, urged the new government to address the poor health outcomes in the country.

The Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahaya, said the improvement of the country’s health system relied greatly on political will and a change in attitudes.

Yahaya said that those two elements were crucial in driving positive change and progress in the country’s health.