12 years ago, African heads of State met in Abuja and committed to allocating 15% of their entire budgets to health spending. This was indicative of prioritizing health as an important factor to breaking the cycle of poverty. After all, as the good old saying goes, health is wealth.
Sierra Leone is a buzzing country nestled in a charming landscape with eclectic people who are hospitable, open, kind and at times all too complacent. However, it is an exciting time to be in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leonean. We have one of our own dominating ballet in America, we are frequenting The African Report magazine for good reasons, and recent World Bank figures tell us that we have the fastest growing economy in the world. There is much to be grateful for. Some of our developments are noticeable and welcomed like the increase in expensive jeeps parading the streets of Freetown that can be considered an indication of consumer wealth and the consistent and constant road work are telling of a country committed to development. On a personal note, the fact that I now have electricity in Regent brings joy to my heart. Good things are happening. In that same token, I am also concerned about some of the things we take for granted, or rather appear helpless in changing like the steady increase in food prices and that fact that we are STILL spending the lowest on Health Care. As the Abuja Declaration Conference quickly approaches this month, July 15th, I am in a somber mood as I reflect on the realities of accessing basic health care in Sierra Leone. 12 years ago, African heads of State met in Abuja and committed to allocating 15% of their entire budgets to health spending. This was indicative of prioritizing health as an important factor to breaking the cycle of poverty. After all, as the good old saying goes, health is wealth. In 2012 our government allocated 11% to health spending, in 2012 we dipped to 7.4% and for 2013, we were promised an allocated 10.5%. 6 months into the year and less than 2% has been released into the health system. What this means for the people of Sierra Leone is that $10, Le 43,000 is currently spent on health per person. This is huge disparity from World Health Organization (WHO) recommended figure of $54 total spending per person which also includes private spending. However, in order to have equitable health spending that protects people from falling into poverty due to health care bills; the government should ideally be funding most of that $54. I know I am most certainly worth more than LE 43,000, aren’t we all? It is imperative that we work with our government to ensure innovative systems for health are put in place to help lift the burden of poverty. Adequate spending on health is imperative to end poverty and rest on shared prosperity. As a Sierra Leonean, I urge all of us to ask our leaders who will be attending the Abuja Declaration conference on July 15th 2013 to recommit to universal access to basic care in the name of enjoying prosperity. They must keep their promise; we are worth more than $10 LE 43,000.