Financial Times: History shows health is the foundation of African prosperity
Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO

“For many people, the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo reinforces their stereotype of Africa: a place where people suffer from exotic diseases that have long since disappeared from rich countries, or never arrived there. Africa lags the rest of the world on many health measures. … But these facts only tell part of the story. At a time when the rest of the world is grappling with the challenges of aging populations, Africa has the world’s youngest. Africa is also home to four of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies and becoming a hub for innovation, research, and development. … At the U.N. General Assembly this month, world leaders will converge for the first high-level meeting focused on universal health coverage. Now is the moment for a new era of partnership among governments, donors, philanthropists, and the private sector, building on past successes. Much work remains to be done to close the gap between Africa and the rest of the world. But with political commitment to universal health coverage and the right investments in strong health systems, the future of Africa is not just healthier, it is also more prosperous and more powerful” (9/22).