Nigeria’s health budget too low to tackle crises – Bill Gates

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, has said Nigeria’s health spending is far too small to adequately address its numerous healthcare challenges, including high maternal mortality, child de.aths, and disease outbreaks.

Gates stressed that the country’s current public health investment does not reflect the scale of its problems.

Gates, who is currently on a visit to Africa, disclosed this at a roundtable discussion with a group of journalists in Lagos on Wednesday.

“When you look at the numbers, the amount Nigeria spends on healthcare is very, very small.

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“It is not just about percentages; in absolute terms, Nigeria’s budget for health is insufficient to tackle the crises it faces,” Gates said.

The philanthropist, who was recently conferred with the national award of Commander of the Federal Republic by President Bola Tinubu, noted that Nigeria is grappling with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, along with widespread child malnutrition and inadequate access to primary healthcare.