Dangote, Jim Ovia & Others Commit $24.2M For “Saving One Million Lives” Campaign & Health Impact Investment Fund [PHOTOS]

As part of a joint private sector advocacy and commitment declaration with partners, the board of the Private Sector Health Alliance led by Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Muhammad Ali Pate, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Shola David Borha, Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq and others announced a $24.2 million landmark commitment, towards a 2 year strategic plan to drive a private sector emergency response to “Saving One Million Lives“; and to set up a health impact investment fund to unlock the market potential of the health sector.

Jim Ovia in his remarks said “we have 7 more quarters till the 2015 MDGs deadline. There is no more time for talking, there is only time for action”.

The highlight of the event was the commitment declaration made by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, where he announced on behalf of the board of PHN, a landmark $24.2 million commitment – through the Private Sector Health Alliance, to accelerate government’s efforts to save one million lives and invest in critical segments of the healthcare value chain that benefit the underserved.

Unveiling the $56.5 million PHN 2 Year Strategic Plan, the MD / CEO of the Private Sector Health Alliance, Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, stated that two components of the strategic plan – Private Sector Emergency Response Plan and Health Impact Investment Fund – will help achieve goals of saving more than 400,000 lives (as a public private coalition) in two years and creating at least 20,000 jobs in five years

Speaking on behalf of the governors, who attended the declaration, Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada and Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, assured participants of the state governments’ commitment to accelerate private sector intervention in the health sector.

Others who spoke at the Joint Declaration included Shola David Borha (board PHN), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri (Technical Lead SOML, SA / HMH), former First Lady of Kwara State and Founder of Wellbeing Foundation, Toyin Saraki, UNICEF Country Director, Jean Gough, officials from the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), USAID, General Electric (GE) and KPMG, among other guests.