By Princess-Ekwi Ajide – Abuja
Federal Government of Nigeria says there is need for synergy to achieving the various multidisciplinary and multi sectoral actions and initiatives that are required at the national, regional, local, and individual levels
The Minister of state for health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, stated this at a ministerial Press Briefing to mark the 2022 World Health Day, in Abuja.
The day is observed annually on 7 April, since 1950, to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) two years previously.
This year’s celebration began with a road walk 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.
In his address, Dr Mamora pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Health alone cannot achieve the needed actions especially as the focus of the 2022 celebration which is on Our planet, Our health” covers the whole essence of human existence.
The Minister said that issues of water, sanitation and hygiene as well as environment affects the health of citizens and must be jointly addressed saying that it is increasingly difficult to ignore the impact of various environmental crises such as climate change, avoidable pollution, food and waterborne diseases, emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, and extreme weather on the planet’s health.
According to him, the environmental crisis has led to worsening non-communicable diseases, enhancing ecosystems where various infectious diseases foster, worsening air quality, food and water shortages, and deteriorating mental health illness.
He cited the American Medical Association report which notes scientific surveys have shown clear evidence that patients are facing adverse health problems associated with climate change; including heat-related injuries and forest fire air pollution, to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries, adding that it is important that efforts are made to put environmentally friendly practices in place to lessen the harmful impact that climate change has on patient’s health across the globe.
Dr. Mamora stressed that the health impacts from climate change primarily affects the vulnerable and the elderly populations disproportionately, especially in low-income communities, minorities, children, and individuals with existing health conditions which the World Health Organization, approximates that 80 percent of climate change affects mainly children.
He also said that climate change also affects 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 adding that hospital supply chains may also see disruptions, leading to shortages of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical devices.
The Minister of State stressed that the Federal Ministry of Health would prioritize long term decision-making that stabilizes the welfare and security of Nigerians and their environment and consider the need for strategic ideas and priorities, which would be worked on in more detail.
For the WHO Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Alex Chimbaru, more than 13 million deaths caused by avoidable climate crisis recorded annually across the globe can be averted through accelerated approach by members states.
He said climate change is negatively impacting air and water quality, and food security, thereby increasing the health risk of humans noting that “The knock-on effect for the burden of heart and lung disease, stroke and cancer, among others, is evident from statistics that points to NCDs representing a growing proportion of Africa’s disease burden and urged Member States to urgently initiate adaptation and mitigation ac