Still on my Indonesia trip that I promised to share my experience with you. Wednesday and Thursday were as fruitful as Monday and Tuesday. My first meeting was with Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Mr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin. The object was to discuss the country’s advancements in universal health coverage. Indonesia’s National Health Insurance Program (JKN) now covers about 98% of the population, ensuring accessible healthcare, especially for the poor and vulnerable. Minister Sadikin emphasized preventive care as the most effective public health strategy, aiming to reduce disease burdens through proactive measures. The government fully subsidizes premiums for low-income individuals and is aggressively expanding the training of primary health workers, even in rural villages, to ensure truly inclusive healthcare. Next, I met with Prof. Dr Nunuk Survani and her team at the Ministry of Education. We discussed Indonesia's educational system, which serves about 50 million pupils at the basic education level with over 3 million teachers. To maintain high standards, all teachers are required to have a degree and teachers professional certification. With the strict implementation of its compulsory basic education policy, Indonesia has achieved a 99% school enrollment rate, significantly addressing the issue of out-of-school children. With 20% of its annual budget allocated to education, Indonesia prioritizes a critical pillar of national development. As we all know, the more educated a country is, the more developed it becomes. At the tertiary level, Indonesia has over 4,000 universities, while Nigeria has less than 10% of that—despite having a population that is about 80% of Indonesia’s. Based on this ratio, we should have at least 1,000 universities. Finally, I concluded the second session with a meeting at Indonesia’s Ministry of MSMEs, which focuses on an extensive support framework for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. MSMEs in Indonesia contribute 61% to GDP and employ 97% of the workforce, making them a critical component of economic growth and development. The ministry, through its agencies, provides mentorship, training, equipment, and financial support. A significant portion of the total bank loans—about $20 billion—is dedicated to MSMEs at an interest rate of 3% to 6%, with the government covering the differential from the commercial loan rate of 12% to 13%. This contrasts with our situation in Nigeria, where the total loans available to over 40 million SMEs are less than 10% of what is allocated in Indonesia, compounded by several other negatively impacting environmental factors. These meetings have been invaluable in highlighting Indonesia’s commitment to advancing healthcare, education, and economic growth. Indonesia stands as a learning model for developing nations. Indeed, a new Nigeria is POssible. -PO

After 100 days, IBEDC restores power to UCH following minister’s intervention

If we're proposing the death penalty for drug peddlers to protect our health, let's extend the same to politicians who steal funds meant for equipping health centers and funding healthcare in Nigeria. Stealing from health is as lethal as drugs.