More than 13 million deaths caused by an avoidable climate crisis recorded annually across the globe can be averted through an accelerated approach by members states.
World Health Organization Deputy Country Representative in Nigeria, Alexander Chimbaru stated this at the 2022 World Health Day’s ministerial briefing in Abuja.
He said climate change is negatively impacting air and water quality, and food security, thus increasing the health risk of humans.
The theme of this year’s World Health Day is Our Planet, Our Health, which serves as a timely reminder of the inextricable link between the planet and our health, as the burden of non-communicable and infectious diseases rises alongside the growing incidence of climate-related challenges.
It is being observed annually on 7 April, since 1950, to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) two years previously.
However, this year’s celebration was observed with a road walk down to the ministerial briefing to highlight the importance of building a resilient approach towards addressing the increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent and severe extreme weather conditions brought by Climate change.
While speaking, Alexander Chimbaru noted that “The knock-on effect for the burden of heart and lung disease, stroke and cancer, among others, is evident from statistics that point to NCDs representing a growing proportion of Africa’s disease burden.” thus urging the Member States to urgently initiate adaptation and mitigation actions.
Governments, civil society, non-government organizations, and communities need to work together, empowering one another to ensure the continued delivery of essential health services during future extreme events, while containing the growing incidence of the environment- and lifestyle-related diseases.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora in his speech said climate change has adverse effects on the vulnerable and the elderly populations, as well as healthcare facilities, hence disrupting services delivery, thus calling for urgent action to safeguard the country’s planet and health system for universal coverage.
“We are working hard to begin our local vaccine production to address not just COVID-19, but prepare for future pandemics and other health priorities.
The government will bring together experts, policymakers, stakeholders, and development partners to set up a committee to discuss the central scientific issues to improving and benefiting from healthy planet and respect for the integrity of living creatures.”
Dr. Mamora further stressed the need to develop an Action Plan which will involve multidisciplinary and multisectoral actions to reduce human and planetary health threats so as to improve the healthier living of Nigerians.
“Prioritizing long term decision-making that stabilizes the welfare and security of Nigerians and their environment
Prioritizing efforts that will keep the private sector and other socio-economic organizations’ environmental and health goals in safe hands.
Implementing policies that reduce the use of fossil fuels, fossil fuels subsidies, its exploration, and shift projects to increase clean energy production and use.
Increasing fossil fuels related tax as an incentive for carbon reduction.
Implementing the WHO air quality guidelines.
Shifting the country towards a green economy by 2030.”
