As we mark Africa Day, I am encouraged by the milestones we have achieved, standing together as one united Africa, towards providing equity in health access since the Alma Ata declaration of 1978.⁣
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Personally, a high point for Nigeria was in 2018 when Nigeria’s National Assembly, chaired by my husband H.E. Dr Bukola Saraki MBBS, CON, helped establish the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. It was a key and catalytic step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage for our citizens.⁣
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As the coronavirus pandemic puts health systems to unprecedented tests, I call on our African leaders, of governments, of policies, and of innovative actions, to rise to the challenge of the #AfricaWeWant. We must accelerate investments and actions to meet the health needs of our citizens by strengthening primary health care services with efficient diagnostics, referrals and treatment. Let’s walk the talk for primary health care and wellbeing.⁣
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As we stand together in rallying the right resources to combat COVID-19, I also call for the reinforcement and replenishment of the 2001 Abuja Declaration—a pledge made by the African Union, standing as one, promising to increase their health budget to at least 15% of the state’s annual budget. The World Health Organisation reported in 2010 that only one African country had reached that target. Today in 2020, we must replenish and reinforce those promises to ensure that every citizen can access an efficient system of quality health.