By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Minister of State for Environment Dr Iziaq Salako has made a call for a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing the intersection of climate change and health.
Salako made the call in his keynote address at the Regional Roundtable on Climate Change and Malaria at the margins of the 77th World Health Assembly.
The Minister noted the resurgence of malaria in Africa, tracing it to higher temperatures, increased rainfall and humidity are increasing the geographical range of mosquitoes and prolonging the annual time frame of malaria transmission in sub-saharan Africa while extended hot and dry season can cause bodies of water to dry up into stagnant water creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
He said “Flood incidences can also lead to considerable uptick of malaria cases due to stagnant bodies of water left behind after the flood while damage to infrastructure may make healthcare inaccessible to people especially vulnerable like children, women and the elderly.
“The loss of livelihoods, displacement and poor nutrition from climate disasters also exposes the people to malnutrition and higher risk of severe malaria.
“Climate change is therefore not just an environmental issue, it is a profound public health threat. I call it a malaria burden amplifier and illness potentiator.
“Climate influences malaria burden directly by affecting transmission dynamics and indirectly through the many socio-economic factors that underpin malaria vulnerability. It is therefore imperative that malaria eradication strategies are climate-proof by understanding the link between climate and malaria transmission, its morbidity and mortality rates.
“Nigeria, like many countries in Africa is experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change on health disproportionately. Our communities are witnessing a resurgence of malaria, straining our health systems, jeopardizing our progress towards malaria eradication and reducing productivity and economic wellbeing of our people.
“Studies in Port-harcout, Kano, Jos major cities in Nigeria and other places have clearly demonstrated that the prevalence of malaria is significantly dependent on the increase in rainfall and temperature. It is therefore clear that we need a comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle these challenges.
He said Nigeria in response to the malaria situation and to guide implementation, the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP) initiated the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) approach with technical support from the WHO and other partners to address the malaria situation in Nigeria.
“The current 2021–2025 National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) is based on the vision of achieving a malaria-free Nigeria, aiming to reduce malaria morbidity to less than 10 percent parasite prevalence and mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 by 2025.
“The 2021 revised Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) includes health-related targets such as Health Impact Awareness, Strengthening Health Systems, Vulnerability Assessments, Health Sector Adaptation Measures, and Cross-Sector Collaboration. These efforts are crucial in ensuring our health systems are resilient and capable of responding to the dual threats of climate change and malaria.
Salako said that by reducing environmental degradation, reducing green house gas emissions, managing waste circularly, clearing drains and improving general environmental sanitation, climate actions helps create healthier environment, thereby diminishing mosquito breeding sites and the spread of malaria.
“Also the adoption of climate smart agriculture with its potential to increase food security, reduces malnutrition and immuno-deficiency with the potential to reduce the incidence of severe and complicated malaria.
“Additionally, empowering women through initiatives like clean cooking, just transition, alternative livelihoods ensures they play a vital role in building climate-resilient communities able to adapt to adverse effects of climate change on their health.
“Mobilizing domestic funding is clearly an important strategy that we must focus on to be able to scale up actions to address the resurgence of malaria occasioned by climate change.
“In Nigeria, the introduction of Sovereign Green Fund is helping to mobilize fund for climate actions which have the capacity to help address the challenges of malaria. The Green Bond which is issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment helps us to sit down with national health authorities and influence projects that addresses the climate health nexus.”
