From the Right: Olorogun Dr. Isaac O Akpometa Director General Delta State Health Contributory Scheme, Dr. Obedience Chairman Delta State Health Contributory Scheme and Pastor Peters Omoragbon.
Pastor Peters Omoragbon, the Executive President/CEO-Nurses Across the Borders International has made a clarion call for the organization of a National Health Forum on Climate Change.
Pastor Omoragbon made the statement while delivering a paper at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Centre for Sustainable Development, Effurun, Delta State at its Third Roundtable on Sustainable Development on Monday, 22 April, 2024.
The theme of the event was ‘Climate Change and Energy Transition: Pain or Gain.’
Omoragbon who is the First Designated Contact Person from Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change while speaking on what the health community has done by coming together and calling upon the leaders of every nation to do everything that is needed to protect people’s health from the impacts of climate change, stated that the aim of such forum would be to bring together all relevant stakeholders from organized agencies, UN entities, the private sectors, religious bodies and the civil society groups to help formulate policies that would aid in reviewing and developing an appropriate National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan to be driven by the FMOH and partners.
The internationally registered Medical icon in his proposal suggested October, 2024, which he suggested would serve as a Pre COP 29 activity with the FMOH and the CSOs. He said, “Nurses Across the Borders would collaborate in organizing a National Health Forum on Climate Change by October 2024 as Pre COP 29 activity with the FMOH and the CSOs. The aim is to bring together all relevant stakeholders from organized agencies, UN entities, the private sectors, religious bodies and the civil society to help formulate policies that will aid in reviewing and developing an appropriate National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan to be driven by the FMOH and partners. May I announce here that NABHI has just signed an MOU with the FMOH in this respect, and looking for funding partners and agencies to sponsor it.”
He also recommended National Capacity Building programs for the healthcare professionals as agents of climate change campaign and as First Responders to climate change disasters and risk reductions. He said NAB would utilize its international networks to provide the needed coordination and the involvement of major stakeholders with the cooperation of the Federal Government through the FMOH. This, he said can be hosted by FUPRE-CSD, Effurun or anywhere.
Omoragbon also disclosed that NAB would with its status in the UNFCCC process support the FMOH, FUPRE-CSD and other stakeholder in mainstreaming health into climate governance, fossil fuel phase out, international financing for climate and health and building a resilient and sustainable low carbon health systems.
Speaking further, Omoragbon disclosed that the vacuum of the FMOH in the development of a comprehensive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) would be filled by supporting the representation of the health sector at national and international level in climate policy decision-making.
He stated that an assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions of the nation’s healthcare facilities is long overdue.
Present at the occasion were the Commissioner for Environment, Honourable Ejiro Tommy Jamani; Olorugun (Hon) Barr. Obukowho John Nani, who doubled as chairman of the occasion and the Chairman, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC); the Chief Host and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun Delta State and also the Special Guest Lecturer, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise; and the National Coordinator, United Nations Development Program GEF/SGP Nigeria were all present.
