Kingsley Moghalu, an economist and former presidential candidate, has urged African nations to prioritize financing healthcare with their own funds rather than depending on foreign assistance.
According to him in a statement on Friday via X, dependence on external assistance for healthcare interventions is not a sustainable strategy for the continent.
Moghalu’s comments come in the wake of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization. He described the move as a “wake-up call” for African nations to take responsibility for their healthcare systems.
“African countries must make funding for healthcare from their own resources a priority. Reliance on foreign aid for healthcare interventions is not wisdom,” Moghalu stated.
He further criticized what he described as misplaced priorities by many African governments, noting that the amount of aid received is insignificant compared to the resources wasted on political luxuries and corruption.
“What many African countries receive in aid is nothing compared to the resources that are wasted on the comfort of politicians or corruptly misappropriated,” he said.
However, Moghalu acknowledged that some African nations have demonstrated better fiscal responsibility and are exceptions to the trend.
He urged governments across the continent to take decisive action to ensure that healthcare funding is treated as a critical national priority.