U.S Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken says America has invested a total sum of $8.3 billion on HIV, tuberculosis prevention, care and treatment, as well as on strengthening the public health system of Nigeria.
Blinken also said that the U.S plan to generate additional $55billion in private sector investment in Africa has reached 40percent in the last one year.
The Secretary of States, made these known on Tuesday during a joint briefing with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar at the State House,Abuja.
Blinken further stated that the projection for the U.S in the next two years over its investment in Africa would hit 70percent following ongoing trajectory.
“On the targeted plan to generate an additional $55 billion in private sector investment in Africa, the US Secretary of State said the progress has hit 40% in the last one year.
“When we had the Africa Leaders’ Summit, hosted by President Biden, one of the commitments we made was to generate an additional $55 billion in private sector investment in Africa over the next three years. Well, here we are one year after the summit and we are 40% of the way to achieving that goal.
By two years after the summit, based on the trajectory we’re on, we will achieve 70% of that goal and we will achieve that goal in the three years that President Biden setup”, Blinken added.
He noted that the effort of the U.S will continue in the Nigeria health Sector
The U.S Secretary of States further made known that he discussed the U.S work on public health in Nigeria and Africa, saving over 20million lives on the continent.
“we also discuss our very consequential work on public health, something one of the things I must say as an American I’m proud of stuff is petrol initiated by President Bush carried on by successive presidents of both parties, over the last four years have already saved well over 20 million lives and changed for the better, many more.
“Over the last five years, we’ve invested $8.3 billion in HIV tuberculosis prevention, care and treatment, and in strengthening the public health system, reaching millions of Nigerians and that effort will continue.
Our partnership is also strengthening Nigerian institutions to innovate and lead the region’s public health response tomorrow’s dimensions the Lagos will get a chance to visit the Institute of Medical Research here in Nigeria”, Blinken added.