By Ade Iyamoye
Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Chikwe Ihekweazu, has called on African governments to take greater responsibility for healthcare financing and reforms, stressing that donor fatigue presents an opportunity for self-reliance.
Speaking in Abuja at a UN roundtable, Ihekweazu acknowledged workforce shortages and weak infrastructure but emphasized that solutions must go beyond these issues.
He highlighted WHO’s role in supporting health financing, regulation, and primary healthcare reforms, while urging governments to absorb trained healthcare professionals.
Addressing global health threats, he reassured that WHO teams are actively responding to emerging diseases, including a new outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
He warned that the measles outbreak in Texas underscores the need for global health collaboration, noting that no country is immune to infectious diseases.
Following a meeting with Nigeria’s Health Minister, Ihekweazu described Nigeria as WHO’s largest country office in Africa, reaffirming WHO’s deep commitment to strengthening the nation’s healthcare system.
