The President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah, has said that having a robust health system will stem the increasing migration of healthcare workers from the African continent.
According to a statement from Afreximbank, Oramah said this on Friday during a visit with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, which was centred on the bank’s initiatives and financing support to the country.
He noted that the initiative was focused on the progress and potential impact of the 500-bed African Medical Centre of Excellence Abuja, as well as its broader implications for healthcare across Africa.
Afreximbank is developing the 500-bed hospital in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London.
The agreement was signed at the inaugural AMCE African Health Forum in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting with Tinubu, the Afreximbank boss said, “I am grateful to President Tinubu for his time, and for an animated and fascinating discussion on among our continent’s central challenges: the provision and delivery of quality, effective healthcare.
“For too long, our continent has watched as its best and brightest medical minds have migrated to Europe and America – but we are now poised to develop a domestic healthcare sector which can retain talent, eventually rivalling and even surpassing systems in other regions.”
In his comments, Tinubu said, “We welcome this significant step towards investing in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. This facility is a great commitment to humanity. We are open and ready to assist this project in every way possible.
“Africa is in need, and Nigeria is committed to the needs of its people. Putting people’s welfare first is putting healthcare first. The training and development of our people are our priorities, and we thank Afreximbank and their partners for their ongoing support.”
The Abuja hospital will focus on three core non-communicable diseases (oncology, haematology and cardiology) and general care capabilities.
Afreximbank said that the AMCE Abuja was the first of five such centres planned across Africa.
During the meeting, the two leaders also touched upon the landmark memorandum of understanding signed between Afreximbank and the Federal Ministry of Health to support the development of Nigeria’s healthcare sector under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking Healthcare Value Chains through a $1bn Healthcare Value Chain Programme.
By Oluwakemi Abimbola–Punch
