The Federal Government has said it has planned a multi-sectoral approach to address various challenges facing the health sector in the country
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora in his speech at the Ministerial Briefing on World Health Day 2022 said a multi-sectoral approach would be deployed to address the challenges in the health sector as he pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Health alone cannot achieve this without various multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral actions and initiatives that are required at the national, regional, local, and individual levels.
Mamora further said that the focus of the 2022 celebration which is on our planet, our health covers the whole essence of human existence.
“The issues of water, sanitation and hygiene as well as the environment affects the health of citizens and must be jointly addressed.
“The current impact of various environmental crises such as climate change, avoidable pollution, food and waterborne diseases, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, and extreme weather events on the planet’s health and every individual is increasingly difficult to ignore.
“Furthermore, the environmental crisis has led to worsening non-communicable diseases, enhancing an ecosystem where various infectious diseases foster, worsening air quality, food and water shortages, and deteriorating mental health illness,” he said.
According to the American Medical Association, “Scientific surveys have shown clear evidence that our patients are facing adverse health effects associated with climate change. From heat-related injuries and forest fire air pollution to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries, it is important that we make every effort to put environmentally friendly practices in place to lessen the harmful impact that climate change is affecting patient health across the globe.
“The health impacts from climate change primarily affect the vulnerable and the elderly populations disproportionately, especially low-income communities, minorities, children, and individuals with existing health conditions.
“According to the World Health Organization, approximately 80 per cent of climate change affects mainly children.
”It also impacts access to healthcare delivery services and disrupts primary health care infrastructure, involving healthcare utilities, ambulatory care services, and communication systems, which are all critical to maintaining emergency medical treatment services.
“Hospital supply chains may also see disruptions, leading to shortages of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical devices. Where there is a will, there is a way.
“Our resolve throws light at the end of the tunnel. Such resolve demonstrated by the health care professionals, policymakers, stakeholders, development partners and interests in health has been evident during this pandemic crisis.”
Mamora further emphasized that the Federal Ministry of Health will reflect on the need for strategic ideas and priorities, which should be worked on in more detail through prioritizing long term decision-making that stabilizes the welfare and security of Nigerians and their environment.
The WHO Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Dr Alex Chimbaru, said that climate change is manifesting in increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent and severe extreme weather conditions.
Chimbaru said that WHO estimates that more than thirteen million annual deaths globally are due to avoidable environmental causes, including the climate crisis.
“With direct consequences for the key determinants of health, climate change is negatively impacting air and water quality, food security, and human habitat and shelter.
“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 including Nigeria.
“In Nigeria and many parts of the African continent, NCDs are set to overtake communicable diseases, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional conditions combined, to become the leading cause of death by 2030.
“COVID-19, along with spiralling obesity, diabetes and hypertension rates, compounds the challenge, highlighting the urgency of a multi-sectoral response”.
Chimbaru therefore, noted that in Nigeria, climate change is already increasing the vulnerability of health systems.
“Warming of 2-3°C is estimated to increase the higher risks of malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Lassa fever, cholera and other diseases especially in coastal regions such as Lagos and Port Harcourt and in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Consequently, Nigeria’s commitment to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission by 20% unconditionally and 47% with international support, and the development of the Sectoral Action Plan (SAP) for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in the key priority sectors are commendable.“
He however said 3 in 10 people in Nigeria don’t have clean water close to home, putting them under constant threat from waterborne diseases like cholera.
“With Africa’s population projected to grow to 2.5 billion by 2050, we can expect burgeoning urbanization into areas exposed to natural hazards, and a concomitant increase in associated injuries, disease and deaths.
“As such, I urge our 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.
“We cannot afford to lose sight of the fundamental truth that the climate crisis, the single biggest threat facing humanity today, is also very much a health crisis,” he added.
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