At a recent one-day Roundtable Forum in Abuja, the Foundation’s Country Director, Uche Amaonwu, announced that the Foundation allocated $8.6 billion to global health in 2024, with a growing emphasis on cancer prevention and NCDs. 

The forum brought together global health leaders, life sciences executives, and government officials to strengthen health systems and improve access to care.

Amaonwu reiterated the Foundation’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria to shape health financing policies, enhance pandemic preparedness, and integrate NCD care into primary healthcare. 

“The rising burden of NCDs in Nigeria demands a new approach,” he said, emphasizing a shift from isolated projects to coordinated, transformative health system support through partnerships with life sciences stakeholders.

He also linked health access to economic prosperity, noting, “Families are forced to sell assets and sacrifice education to cover medical costs. 

Health is foundational to prosperity.”Health Minister Prof. Ali Pate highlighted the severe financial toll of illness, with 70% of healthcare costs paid out-of-pocket and only 9.5% of Nigerians insured, pushing over one million people into poverty annually due to medical expenses. 

“Collaboration, innovation, and private sector involvement are critical to reducing mortality and improving health outcomes,” Pate stated.