Dangote Foundation partners GBCHealth to fight malnutrition, malaria

Dangote Foundation partners GBCHealth to fight malnutrition, malaria
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Dangote
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Sept. 19, 2017 (NAN) The Chairman of Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, had revealed plans to build an African Business Coalition on Health (ABCHealth) in collaboration with GBCHealth to fight malnutrition and malaria in the continent.
Mr Anthony Chiejina, Dangote Group’s Chief Corporate Communication Officer, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Chiejina explained that the chairman of the group made the disclosure during the Bloomberg Global Business Forum he was co-hosting which took place in a side event of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He quoted Dangote as saying that the African-led coalition of companies and philanthropists will seek to improve the health and well-being of Africans, both within the workplace and the border communities.
“The partnership will develop and deploy impactful health programmes across Africa, deepening knowledge, building evidence for future investment and strengthening co-ordination among African philanthropists, business leaders, companies and local business networks.
“The Coalition is building on the leadership, reputation and convening power of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the experience, reputation and global reach of GBCHealth.
“The critical issues that will be the focus of the partnership ranges from nutrition to malaria, with priorities identified and agreed by local leadership,” he said.
According to him, through his foundation, Dangote had made an unprecedented grant and seed contribution to GBCHealth of US$ 1.5 million over three years.
He said that this step was a call to action and a signal to the African business community of the importance of working together and investing in health.
The communication officer stated that Dangote made it clear at the event that time was ripe for the private sector to pro-actively demonstrate its value in partnering to lead a new era in development.
He noted that the richest man in Africa stated that the coalition can provide much needed guidance to ensure activities and investments are driving results in areas where the private sector can have real impact, focusing on holistic and integrated solutions that cross borders.
Chiejina said that Dangote announced that he was looking forward to working with other business leaders as partners in development to drive this impact.
According to the spokesperson, the Co-chair of GBCHealth’s Board of Directors, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said that “the coalition brought together two heavyweights in the health and development arena”.
“Together we have an opportunity to demonstrate how investing in health and creating healthier populations can help business maximise shareholder value, accelerate economic growth and make entry into new markets more feasible.
“The coalition will have five primary objectives over its first three years: incubate partnerships on priority health programmes to enhance and accelerate results; work directly with companies to optimise workplace and community health programmes.
“Advocate for policies and initiatives that drive system-level changes; create a hub of data and insights specific to Africa and African business;
“Create leadership events to convene and drive action around common health issues, across sectors,” he said.
He said that Aig-Imoukhuede announced that the programme would kick off in Nigeria and roll out through business regions in Africa and beyond over the next three years. (NAN)
MS/AAB/MST
Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola