Nigeria to incorporate climate change into health policies – Minister

The Nigerian government says it recognizes the challenges posed by climate change to public health, the health system and health workforce and is putting measures in place for mitigation and adaptation.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated this at the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of National Association of Resident Doctors held in Abeokuta South West Nigeria.

He said that the government has started incorporating climate change considerations into various health policies and plans.

“This includes linking health outcomes to climate resilience in strategic documents like the National Health Policy and National Health Sector Strategic Plan, establishing surveillance systems to monitor climate-sensitive health issues,”

‘Such as vector-borne diseases which will help to identify and respond to outbreaks more effectively, promoting policies and frameworks focused on disaster risk reduction including health emergency preparedness and prioritizing the importance of addressing health impacts arising from climate-related disasters.” He said.

Dr. Salako also called for urgent strengthening of the health system and workforce to mitigate challenges posed by climate change.

He noted that the challenges posed to the health system and workforce by climate change requires the strengthening of the system to mitigate and adapt.

“Apart from shifting disease patterns with increase incidence of respiratory diseases, heat-related illnesses, heart diseases and the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria, climate change is also directly causing injuries and deaths and has been linked to increases in violent crime and overall poor mental health (USEPA, 2024).

“According to WHO (2015), Under high emmission scenarios, 400 million people in Nigeria are projected to be at risk of malaria by 2070, diarrhoea disease in children under 15 attributable to climate change is projected to be almost 10% by 2030 and heat related deaths in the elderly 65 years and above is projected to increase to about 80 per 100,000 annually by 2080 compared to the baseline of 3 as at 1990.” The Minister explained.

Dr Salako also noted that the prevailing trajectory of climate change is posing an existential threat to humanity, sustainable development, planetary health and affecting the vulnerable groups disproportionately.

He said there is need for relevant training to enhance the capacity and capability of health workforce to respond to climate induced health emergencies and healthcare needs including providing climate-related health education.

“Incorporating teaching on the intersection between climate change and health for CPDs as well as in medical school, nursing schools and raising climate and health specialists is a compelling need of the new world order of extreme weather events.”

“To reduce the magnitude, control adverse effects and manage post extreme weather events, environmental health officers should also be well integrated into frontline response.” He stated.

According to him, ” Healthcare workers are at the frontline of responding to climate induced public health challenges and the need to expand their climate related health competencies can not be overemphasized for effective adaptive frameworks.” He stated.

The Minister also pointed out that loss of livelihoods, displacement and food insecurity from climate disasters also exposes the people to malnutrition and higher risk of many diseases.

“Current flooding being experienced in our country is a litmus test, a gantlet to the resilience of our health system and our abilities to respond collaboratively across sectors to address the health challenges of climate change and extreme weather events. it is a clarion call to us that its better to act to mitigate climate change and not wait untill such catastrophe occurs.

“Against this background, it has become expedient that in strengthening the resilience of our health care system, we adopt climate-centric innovations and climate-proof the system.” He stated.

The Minister also appeal to the Doctors to ensure strict compliance to a standard of minimum service even during strikes.

“We need to also recognise that frequent strikes in the sector is alienating doctors and other health care professionals from the people, I must appeal to our sense of patrotism to stay and join hands in building the country which has invested a lot on most of us.”

“We should not be turning our back on the country. Times are tough no doubt but let me assure you all the Federal government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is tougher and resolute to win the war against the hard time and bring back the good old days of economic prosperity.”

“The President is determined to significantly improve power generation, transmission and distribution, massively ramp up infrastructure, promote access to capital, eliminate multiple taxation, diversity the economy.” The Minister added.