It’s more expensive to die in Africa than to live – Kukah

Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto hasissued a blunt call for African-led solutions to the continent’s deepeninghealth crisis, insisting that reliance on foreign aid is no longer sustainable. Speaking at the African Faith and Health LeadersConsultation in Nairobi, hosted by Christian Connections for InternationalHealth, CCIH, the All Africa Conference of Churches, AACC, and the AfricaChristian Health Associations Platform, ACHAP, Kukah challenged faith leaders,civil society and governments to take urgent action. He said: “We must hold the feet of our politicians to thefire. Africa cannot continue to blame the victim or hide under a theology ofhelplessness. God cannot be the default solution because our health systemshave failed our people.” The gathering, which brought together bishops, archbishopsand pastors from 10 sub-Saharan nations, focused on equitable health financing,sustainable models of care for underserved communities and strategies tostrengthen local advocacy. Kukah lamented the failure of African governments to honourthe Abuja Declaration, in which countries pledged 15 percent of nationalbudgets to health. He said: “Our churches have a powerful moral voice, but welack the tools for data and analysis; commitments on paper mean nothing ifpoliticians are not held accountable.” He recounted the human toll of weak health systems, sharingstories of Nigerians struggling to pay hospital bills. He said, “People are grabbed by poverty and desperation. Myphone never stops ringing, someone’s father, someone’s child, begging for help.This is not how a society should function.” Kukah also called for stronger local resource mobilisation,urging Africans to rethink spending priorities. He stressed, “It is more expensive to die in Africa than tolive. There are people with enormous wealth; are we engaging them? Are theyinvesting in the health of our people? We cannot wait until the taps run dry inEurope and America.” Beyond healthcare, he reflected on Africa’s politicalchallenges and the role of the church in shaping governance. “There is noalternative to democracy. If we are not at the table, then we are on the menu.We need more good people from civil society to step forward, engagepolitically, and shape the future,” he said. The consultation continues with sessions on local healthmanufacturing, equitable financing, government collaboration andcommunity-level interventions.

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