TheCable

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Group, has called on African leaders to invest more in healthcare.

Dangote made the call at the formal certification of Wild Poliovirus Eradication in Africa by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

On Tuesday, WHO declared Nigeria and the rest of Africa polio-free.

Dangote said there is the need to apply the mindset put into eradicating polio on general healthcare on the continent.

According to him, the eradication of polio in Africa proves that if “we stay clear-eyed and committed to a goal, we can get results”.

“I want to commend our African leaders, especially my own President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for his leadership. All levels of government have successfully come together to make this day possible,” Dangote said.

“Africa’s young people will drive our continent’s future success. It is our duty as leaders to invest now in their health and well-being. That is why I started my Foundation in 1994, and why I have been pushing to eradicate polio across Africa for many years. Because nothing is more important than the health of our children.

“Ending wild polio in Africa is a giant leap forward. We have shown that if we stay clear-eyed and committed to a goal, we can get results. We must always be tenacious to get where we want to go.

“We need to apply the same mindset on public health across Africa, beginning with us here today. The onus is on us to continue this push forward, until polio in all its forms is gone forever.

“There is no better time than now. We must be dedicated to this fight, and make the sustained investments in immunisations, medical workers, and public health that will make a difference.”