Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has applauded the innovative breakthroughs of two Nigerian medical doctors, Hadiza Galadanci and Bosede Afolabi in the 2023 Bill and Melinda Gates report.
The former Anambra State Governor, called for more aggressive investment in the health sector which according to him, remains the most critical measure of human development.
Obi in a statement posted on his X handle (formerly Twitter), urged the Federal Government to prioritise health sector development to encourage innovative Nigerians already making waves in the sector at the global stage to do more.
Below is a full text of the statement:
“I just read the 2023 Goalkeepers Report from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It was cheering to learn about two Nigerian doctors, Hadiza Galadanci and Bosede Afolabi who, through their various innovations, are stemming the tide of maternal and newborn deaths around the world.
“It is believed that through their innovative ideas, about 2 million additional lives could be saved by 2030, and 6.4 million lives by 2040.
“It is refreshing to learn that while Nigeria as a country has continued to struggle with a high infant mortality rate arising from poverty, inadequate health facilities, etc., these doctors of Nigerian origin have, through painstaking efforts, developed ingenious and innovative ways of finding solutions to the challenge and in a global context too.
“I salute and commend their creative ingenuity. This great achievement underscores my consistent call that governments must invest aggressively in the health sector because it remains the most critical measure of human development.
“By investing in the health sector, creative innovators like Hadiza Galadanci and Bosede Afolabi and many others yet undiscovered will find adequate support to make more far reaching impacts in society.
“I congratulate and appreciate Hadiza Galadanci and Bosede Afolabi for the positive impact they are making. A new Nigeria is POssible with innovative minds like theirs.”
