AMCE Calls for Urgent Reform to Strengthen Africa’s Health Systems

CALABAR, Nigeria – The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) has called for urgent reforms to address Africa’s fragile health systems, warning of the paradox of a continent that carries 25 percent of the global disease burden but only three percent of the world’s health workforce.

Speaking at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Annual General Meeting in Calabar on Tuesday, AMCE’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Aisha Umar, described the statistics as a stark reminder of systemic neglect.

“These are not just numbers,” she said. “They reflect the daily realities of mothers, children, and entire communities being left behind. This is a crisis that demands immediate action.”

Umar urged African governments and stakeholders to prioritise policy reform, strong partnerships, and investment in healthcare infrastructure to curb the continent’s reliance on outbound medical tourism.

She pointed to the AMCE in Abuja—established by Afreximbank in collaboration with the Nigerian government and opened in June 2025—as a model of homegrown innovation.

With 170 beds and advanced services in oncology, cardiovascular care, haematology, and surgery, the centre combines early detection, treatment, and long-term management. Expansion plans will see capacity grow to 500 beds, while also offering training and research programmes to retain talent.

“Let today be a turning point,” Umar urged. “A moment when we commit to building a health system that works for all Nigerians, where our doctors and nurses thrive at home, and world-class care becomes the rule, not the exception.”

Her remarks came against the backdrop of underfunding, workforce shortages, and weak infrastructure that continue to undermine healthcare delivery across the continent.

“If we are serious about keeping our doctors and nurses at home, then we must invest in their growth, their tools, and their future here in Africa,” she said.

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