By Vivian Ihechu

Some health experts and financial executives have emphasised the direct link between healthcare infrastructure and economic transformation.

They spoke during a conversation on “Reclaiming Africa’s Destiny through Investment and Innovation in Health Care” at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2005),  with the theme” Building the Future on Decades of Resilience”.

Mrs Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, asserted that there is  a critical connection between national health and economic progress.

“We recognise that for Africa to achieve sustainable economic transformation, if it is going to be sustainable, we need a healthy population.

“Afreximbank has been innovative in recognising the connection between trade, economic transformation, and health security.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the bank launched its Health and Medical Tourism Programme in 2012, predating global discussions about healthcare infrastructure.

“In 2012, we launched the health and medical tourism programme, and this was before anyone could connect the dots or make the connection between trade, there was an economic transformation.

“And this was also before people started talking about health, security, apprenticeship, the bank was innovative,’’ Doherty said.

Citing the AMCE, she said the investment targeted significant healthcare gaps, particularly in oncology, hematology, and cardiovascular treatments.

According to her, the state-of-the-art facility in Abuja represents a strategic approach to reversing medical brain drain and reducing costly medical tourism.

“Currently, African countries lose approximately Seven billion dollars annually through overseas medical treatments.

“Nigeria alone spends 1.1 billion dollars on medical procedures conducted outside its borders.

“We are African intellectual freedom fighters, fighting for financing, trade, and health security because we understand the fundamental connection between a healthy population and economic transformation,’’ Doherty said.

Also, Dr Brian Deaver, Chief Executive Officer of  AMCE,  highlighted the facility’s comprehensive approach.

“We’re not just building a hospital; we’re creating an ecosystem of medical excellence,” he said.

NAN reports that the centre  features 170 beds equipped with advanced technology and internationally recruited specialists.

The bank’s broader vision includes a two  billion dollars  financing programme dedicated to health and pharmaceutical development across Africa.

This initiative aims to support the African Union’s goal of achieving 40 per cent local vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing by 2040.

Prof.  Gulam Mufti, a key Advisor to the project, emphasised the transformative potential.

“This is about creating a leading global institution focused on research, innovation, and world-class treatment,” he said.

According to Mufti, a professor of Haemato-oncology, the investment goes beyond medical infrastructure, addressing critical challenges like sickle cell disease, which affects over 100 million people, with more than 65 per cent residing in Africa. (NAN)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma