By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Over 5,000 lives were impacted through the nationwide malaria initiative of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc across Enugu, Delta, and Kano States last month.

The company delivered free malaria testing and diagnosis; administration of treatment drugs to those who tested positive; awareness talks on malaria prevention and distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to residents of the communities visited by its team.

The programme was in commemoration of World Malaria Day 2025 themed Malaria Ends With us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite, which was used to call for renewed commitment to malaria prevention and control efforts.

It was gathered that on April 25, Stanbic IBTC was at Nchatancha in Enugu East Local Government Area (LGA), and went to Okpanam in the Oshimili North LGA of Delta State on April 28, and climaxed the visit to Wudil Ward in Wudil LGA, Kano State on April 30.

“We are proud to support World Malaria Day 2025 and contribute to global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.

“Our partnership with stakeholders has helped raise awareness about the disease; promote prevention and control measures; and inspire action towards achieving a malaria-free world,” the acting chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr Kunle Adedeji, stated.

The initiative comes at a critical time when sustainable investment in malaria prevention is needed to protect vulnerable populations.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths worldwide in 2023 – representing about 11 million more cases compared to 2022.

Nigeria bears a disproportionate burden of the disease, accounting for 30.9 per cent of all malaria deaths in the WHO African Region. Children under five years old account for approximately 76 per cent of all malaria deaths in the region, making timely interventions crucial for survival.

Through its comprehensive programme, Stanbic IBTC continues its long-standing commitment to promoting health, well-being, and sustainable development in the communities it serves. By focusing on grassroots engagement, the financial institution ensures that life-saving information and resources reach those most at risk.

The campaign represents a model for effective corporate intervention in public health challenges. By supporting prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment strategies, this initiative helps save lives and strengthens community resilience against this preventable and treatable disease.

Stanbic IBTC’s malaria intervention aligns with global efforts that have averted an estimated 2.2 billion cases of malaria and 12.7 million deaths since 2000, according to the WHO.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Customers of AXA Mansard Health have been reassured that they would remain a priority and all efforts would be made to ensure they get value for their money.

The chief executive of the leading health insurance provider in Nigeria, Mr Tope Adeniyi, reiterated this commitment at the company’s South-West Provider Forum in Ibadan, recently.

Mr Adeniyi emphasised that millions of AXA Mansard Health customers across the country would continue to receive quality healthcare, no matter what.

“For us at AXA Mansard Health, it’s about the customer first. It’s not just a core value; it’s the mantra that guides everything we do from innovation to process improvement, product development and even our CSR initiatives. We are a company built on protecting what matters to our customers,” he stated.

The AXA Mansard Health chief explained that the forum was put together to engage with its providers to jointly chat the best ways to ensure that AXA customers receive the best healthcare services.

“We know that it is our providers that complete this value-chain of superior customer service; the hospitals, the clinics, the laps, and so on. That’s how our customers experience us.

“So, we are here today to consolidate on the partnership, so our customers can always get the best.

“Our customers are always first, and they are followed by our providers. We are convinced that if we keep this model, we will remain the brand to beat in Nigeria.

“Our wider plan is to touch all corners of Nigeria and bring premium healthcare services to every Nigerian because they deserve it.

“These forums are crucial in building strong partnerships with our providers, which ultimately lead to better healthcare outcomes for our customers,” he said.

Business Post reports that the forum, which has been held previously in various cities, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Ibadan, and Abuja over the last four months, underscores AXA Mansard Health’s commitment to bridging the healthcare gap and ensuring that premium healthcare services are accessible to all Nigerians, not just those in major cities.

This nationwide reach ensures that the benefits of these engagements are felt across the country, fostering collaboration and sharing best practices needed to address the unique healthcare challenges faced by different parts of the country.

Nigeria faces significant healthcare challenges, with only about 4.08 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on healthcare.

The country has a doctor-to-patient ratio of approximately 1 to 10,000, far below the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 1 to 600.

With healthcare access unevenly distributed across the country and rural areas experiencing higher out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare compared to urban zones, there is an urgent need for initiatives like the providers forum to improve healthcare delivery for all Nigerians.

AXA Mansard Health says it is committed to enhancing its products and services through these forums while also working on improving the overall healthcare experience for its customers.

The company plans to hold future forums in the South East region in the coming months, further demonstrating its dedication to ensuring quality healthcare is accessible to all.

“As we progress further into 2025, the insights and feedback gathered from these forums will play a pivotal role in shaping our company’s strategies to enhance customer experience and ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to all Nigerians,” Mr Adeniyi concluded.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Investing in Innovation Africa (i3), a pan-African initiative to support African healthtech startups to commercialise and scale their offerings, has announced its 3rd cohort of seven growth-stage companies working to transform pharmacy services on the continent.

Sponsored by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), Endless Foundation, HELP Logistics (a subsidiary of the Kühne Foundation), Sanofi’s Global Health Unit and Chemonics, the three-year programme will empower innovators to improve patient access to healthcare across Africa and scale their impact.

i3 is coordinated by Salient Advisory and Solina Center for International Development and Research (SCIDaR).

The selected startups include mPharma, Chefaa, Dawa Mkononi, Meditect, myDawa, RxAll, and Sproxil.

These startups were selected by an expert committee and with the support of CcHUB and Villgro Africa and an independent expert advisory committee.

According to a statement, they will each receive up to $225,000 in risk-tolerant funding, tailored customer introductions, bespoke deal facilitation, and professional communications and advocacy support.

i3 also aims to facilitate around 150 strategic partnerships and influence deals valued at $30M million between innovators and major healthcare purchasers.

In addition, the cohort will participate in i3’s flagship Access to Markets event in December 2025, designed to spark high-impact partnerships between innovators and large healthcare companies, governments, donors, and multilateral agencies.

In the past two years, i3 has provided $3 million in direct grant funding to 60 start-ups across 16 African countries. The program has also established a diverse cohort of innovators, with 43 per cent being women-led and 20 per cent Francophone-led.

According to a statement, successes have recorded 450 facilitated strategic connections, including 122 contracts and pilots, resulting in $11 million in contracted partnerships, expanded reach, and nearly 1,000 jobs created—half of which were held by women.

Speaking on the latest move, Mr Boniface Njenga, Deputy Director, Health Delivery and Systems, Africa at the Gates Foundation, commented: “As the global health landscape continues to rapidly shift, we remain committed to supporting innovative solutions and initiatives that strengthen local health systems across Africa. The i3 program emphasises the transformative potential of technology-driven innovations on the continent when empowered with the right resources, and we have already seen impressive results from the cohorts.”

On her part, Dr Priya Agrawal, Vice President, International Health Equity and Partnerships, at MSD, noted: “Now more than ever, investing in local healthcare businesses is essential for securing effective and sustainable medicine and vaccine distribution across Africa. MSD is committed to partnering with i3 to support entrepreneurs that are dedicated to expanding equitable healthcare access. By engaging the local private sector and meeting patients where they are, we can enhance access and strengthen health systems through fostering innovation in pharmacy services.”

For Dr Ashifi Gogo, CEO and Founder at Sproxil, remarked: “It is an honor to be selected as part of the i3 cohort focused on growth-stage companies. The support of leading global life sciences and logistics companies, alongside forward-thinking foundations, is encouraging as we scale our impact. The i3 program continues to differentiate itself through the transformative power of local innovation, and I am eager to see the significant impact this cohort will undoubtedly make.”