Climate change in Nigeria has reduced air quality and worsened air pollution, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases among citizens, according to Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammad Pate.
He said this on Thursday at the Future of Health Conference 2024, organized by Nigeria Health Watch, a non-profit organization focused on public health communications and advocacy.
It is an annual event aimed at providing solutions to health sector challenges and advocating for policy actions to ensure that all Nigerians have access to quality and affordable healthcare.
This year's event has the theme: “From evidence to action: building resilience at the climate-health nexus.”
Pate also stated that the phenomenon is also worsening the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and cholera.
Pate highlighted the impact of climate change on citizens across the country and said its adverse effects on the food system and the rising rate of malnutrition are causes for concern.
The minister also stated that climate change has contributed to the increasing burden of certain respiratory diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases.
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He said: “This year, Nigeria has faced significant climate-related disruptions, including widespread flooding and drought in several regions. These environmental changes 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 not normally common. We are also witnessing the emergence of new vectors, such as dengue in Sokoto and yellow fever in other regions. In addition, cholera outbreaks related to contaminated water sources and other enteric diseases are becoming more frequent.”
A child receiving the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) [PHOTO: Gavi]
Impact of climate change
In 2022, Nigeria experienced its worst flooding in more than a decade, with more than 2 million people displaced as an unprecedented climate-related impact. Since then, the country suffers annual floods that displace thousands of people and increase the risk of malaria and cholera.
Drought and desertification in northern regions are reducing arable land and worsening food insecurity, while heat waves are becoming more intense, increasing health risks and energy demand.
Research has identified health problems such as cerebrospinal meningitis, cardiovascular respiratory disorders in the elderly, skin cancer, malaria, high blood pressure and morbidity as direct consequences of climate change.
Children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and disabilities and those in extreme poverty have been identified as the most vulnerable group.
To address this, the minister said that providing a strong health system and effective governance and policies are essential for the country.
“Improving health outcomes must begin with a strong emphasis on primary health care, which serves as a foundation for resilience against climate-related and other health threats.
“We are working to renew our healthcare workforce, ensuring it is available and prepared to detect and respond to emerging diseases. “We need to ensure that our health infrastructure is better equipped to meet the energy demands caused by climate change,” he said.
Resilience against climate change
Likewise, the CEO of Nigeria Health, Vivianne Ihekweazu, also called for resilience and dedication to protect citizens, combat the impact of climate change and improve the health sector.
Ms Ihekweazu said to address this, CSOs and government authorities must collaborate and leverage the knowledge of local communities and work towards effective adaptation.
He also said: “It is believed that resilience is not built in isolation: it requires a multi-sectoral approach that brings together diverse stakeholders.
“Climate resilience in health cannot be built without strong leadership and policy frameworks that integrate health, agriculture, environment and energy.
“Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are essential to amplify the voices of grassroots communities. We must continue to build trust by ensuring that local knowledge is respected and harnessed. By building coalitions across sectors, CSOs can ensure that interventions are inclusive and sustainable. Furthermore, the foundation of any effective intervention is solid evidence. “We must use investigative evidence to support our defense.”