Dangote, ECA, partner on affordable healthcare

Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and a host of African business leaders/philanthropists have begun building a coalition that would deliver affordable healthcare to people across the continent in an equitable manner.
 
The coalition referred to as the African Business Coalition for Health (ABCHealth) and ECA are to develop and jointly execute the Healthcare and Economic Growth in Africa (HEGA 2) report and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)-anchored Pharma Initiative.
  
Co-founder, ABCHealth, Aliko Dangote, said Africa’s health sector is about to experience a significant boost following the partnership. 
   
“With the coalition that ABCHealth is building across the continent, responsible business leaders and philanthropists will have a platform that enables them to make sustainable, large-scale investments in health that transform African economies and people,” he noted.
 
Chairman, ABCHealth, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede expressed confidence that the partnership would have a strong impact on the continent, noting that with the public and private sectors working together, Africa’s health sector can be built to the point where it will deliver affordable health to people. 

Executive Secretary, ECA, Vera Songwe, noted that investing in health was not just a social good, but also made good business sense. 
  
A joint statement by the two organisations, ABCHealth and ECA, said it is becoming clearer, especially with the outbreak of COVID-19, that more private sector involvement is required to support government’s efforts on health.
  
The statement reads in part: “HEGA 2 report is a follow up to the HEGA 1 report which ‘analysed a strategic direction for African countries to better engage with the private health sector to accelerate improvements in health’, in addition to examining Africa’s healthcare challenges and highlighting opportunities for the private sector. The report was launched in February 2019 on the margins of the 32nd African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa.”