Lara Adejoro
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate says the effects of climate change have impacted air quality, worsening both infectious and non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, and food insecurity.
Pate said this on Thursday at the 2024 Future of Health Conference organised by the Nigeria Health Watch themed, “From evidence to action: Building resilience at the climate-health nexus.”
He emphasised that the climate and health challenge is not just a concern for the future, but a reality today, as the impact is already being felt across the world and Nigeria.
“This year, Nigeria has faced significant climate-related disruptions, including widespread flooding and droughts in various regions. These environmental shifts have brought with them a sharp increase in climate-sensitive diseases.
“In December, during a visit to Kano, community leaders expressed concern about seeing malaria cases during a time of year when it is usually not prevalent. We are also witnessing the emergence of new vectors, such as dengue in Sokoto and yellow fever in other regions.
Additionally, cholera outbreaks linked to contaminated water sources and other enteric diseases are becoming more frequent.
“The effects of climate change are not confined to infectious diseases. The air quality has worsened, exacerbating both infectious diseases and Non-Communicable Diseases, such as respiratory issues and cardiovascular conditions, which now represent the fastest-growing health burden in Nigeria. The adverse effects on food systems, leading to malnutrition and food insecurity, are also a major concern,” he said.
The minister noted that there is a need for a robust health system to address the challenges of climate change.
According to him, “Governance, policy, and multisectoral collaboration are critical. Improving health outcomes must begin with a strong emphasis on primary health care, which serves as the foundation for resilience against climate-related and other health threats. We are working to revamp our health workforce, ensuring that they are available and prepared to detect and respond to emerging diseases.
“There is also an economic dimension to our response. We are looking for ways to create economic value while addressing climate challenges. Solarisation of healthcare facilities, including primary health centres and teaching hospitals, is one such approach. This will ensure that our health infrastructure is better equipped to meet the energy demands brought on by climate change.”
In her opening address, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, stated that the impacts of climate change are now felt in every corner of life and in the systems designed to protect people’s health.
Ihekweazu maintained that climate change is now a major determinant on health.
She underscored the importance of a multisectoral approach, involving diverse stakeholders, and the need to include young voices in climate change policies.
“At Nigeria Health Watch, we recognise the immense challenge of addressing health impacts linked to climate change. We believe that resilience is not built in isolation—it requires a multisectoral approach, bringing together diverse stakeholders,” she said.
The Global Programme Lead, Climate and Health, World Bank, Dr Tamer Rabie commended Nigeria for taking strong steps towards a climate resilient health system.
Rabie said, “Nigeria is leading the way by example, you’re putting in the evidence, you’re developing the policy through a health national adaptation plan, you’re bringing in the investments, and scaling up action, developing a programme that is coming in to focus on strengthening of primary health care, bringing in quality into service delivery designs, and ensuring that you are working quite closely with so many different stakeholders, including the private sector.
“We’re at the very beginning of this journey, but I am extremely hopeful and optimistic that we’re moving in the right direction to be able to reach those people that are most vulnerable in Nigeria, and to ensure that we do not get to see a life that is lost because of the climate crisis.”
Rabie emphasised the importance of capacity building for policymakers and healthcare workers to address climate-related health challenges
“I think there are different ways of dealing with this. One way is by learning from other countries’ experiences. So, this is where the work that the World Bank has done in establishing a climate-smart health system collaborative through the Joint Learning Network, and Nigeria is very much a part of that.
“It brings in those countries to share the experiences and lessons. It does not mean necessarily that Nigeria is only in it to learn from others, but Nigeria will be able to contribute its own experiences and lend its lessons to other countries that can also benefit from that.
“Another way of strengthening capacity is by providing direct and targeted technical assistance to the Federal Ministry of Health, or even to actors at the state level. This is about getting all parts of the government to work together efficiently to deliver on their goals,” he noted.
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