Toyin Saraki: ‘Primary HealthCare Investment Key To 21st Century’s Survival’

By ‘Dotun Akintomide

Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), HE, Mrs. Toyin Ojora-Saraki has said investment into primary healthcare programmes is key to humans’ survival in the current century, challenging policymakers in public and private circles to ensure adequate implementation of policies and actions that would aid more investment in the area of social impact programmes across countries.

In a release made available to The New Diplomat through her media team, Mrs. Saraki who participated alongside her WBFA global team at the 11th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit organised by Corporate Council on Africa in Washington DC, Friday 16, June, said the social impact investment programmes of the century would be contribution to primary healthcare and midwifery.

Mrs. Saraki in her remark while speaking at the panel of discussion on the theme: ‘Africa Rising: Expanding Social Impact on The Continent,’ said, “before tackling tertiary and secondary problems, we must build strong foundations at the primary level and invest in primary healthcare and primary education.”

Mrs. Saraki continued: “I believe that the social impact investment of the century will be in primary healthcare and midwifery.”

“Private sector must collaborate with the local community and civil society, to improve implementation and impact,” she stated.

To improve relations between governmental bodies and the private sector for policy sustainability, Mrs. Saraki pointed out that: “For governments to have long and sustaining relationships with private sector there must be a high level of transparency, and national policymakers must be clear and honest about what their country needs.”

Mrs Saraki, Wife of Nigeria’s Senate President, His Excellency Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives headquartered at The Hague, and a member of the recently launched African Union – UNWomen African Women Leaders Network Initiative.

 At the event, she spoke on an all-female panel which was moderated by Cassady Walters of the Albright Stonebridge Group founded by Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary for Foreign Affairs‎.

Other panelists at the summit include Heather Kulp, Director of the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative; Jennifer Guertin, Associate Director at the Gates Institute; and Natasha Quist, Senior Advisor at the Gates Foundation.

Mrs. Saraki alongside her global team also attended the Gala dinner at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art on Thursday 15 June, where they admired the latest collections, including artwork by Yinka Shonibare.