MILLIONS of Africans will be given better healthcare, Ivan Lewis announced on his first visit to the continent in his new ministerial role.

The Bury South MP made a three-day trip to Nigeria, visiting a community group, school and health clinic in the states of Abuja and Kaduna to see the impact of UK aid first-hand.

“Nigeria needs immediate and sustained help if it is to tackle the shocking quality of healthcare in some parts of the country,” he said.

“Our two new programmes will provide positive, sustainable change in helping ensure millions of ordinary men, women and children get the healthcare they deserve.”

Nigeria has the second highest number of people living with HIV in the world. More than three million people are HIV positive and one million children have been orphaned by Aids.

Mr Lewis, minister for international development, added: “My first visit to Africa in my new role gave me a tremendous insight into both the scale of the challenge and optimism of the people.

“The challenge in Nigeria is for the politicians to match the spirit and enterprise of the people with effective and honest leadership.”