With the motto to expand the frontiers of quality health, Nurses Across the Borders International, through its humanitarian initiative, has launched the health -Ocean-Climate-Nexus-Framwork.
This framework, if eventually implemented would see to the deployment of over 50,000 ocean climate health diplomats made up of UN/UNEP certified nurses deployed to coastal clinics, enable nexus equity index which would enhance annual ranking of nations on: health budget integration, coastal ecosystem recovery, climate disease mortality reduction;
Global mobilisation for the Nice Ocean Action Plan ratification; improve climate resilience and health surveillance.
The unveiling of the framework took place at the Side Event of the UNFCCC COP Conference with theme Healing Our Planet, Healing Our People.
The side event itself was titled “Enhancing Blue Economy Activities through Climate Smart Livelihood,” at the COP 30 Brazil Side Event.
It is on record that Climate change refers to long term shift in temperatures and weather patterns and human activities have become the driver of climate change.
Announcing the 2025 UNOC: ‘Health and climate change Nexus in the Marine and blue economy strategic policy part-ways for a just transition’, Pastor Peters Omoragbon who said “Our diagnosis is unequivocal, human health is ocean health is climate stability, explained that when gas flares poison children’s lungs in the Niger Delta, those same toxins acidify the gulf of Guinea, and when rising seas flood Dakar’s slums, cholera follows.”
Expressing confidence of in the organisation’s ability to realize the target of the newly launched framework, Omoragbon disclosed that the prognosis remains hopeful. “Rigorous evidence confirms that strategically integrated policies can break this cycle. Let us dissect the pathology and implement the cure.”
Speaking on Africa’s systemic climate, ocean, and health crisis, Pastor Omoragbon said that Africa suffers 4-7 times the global mortality from climate linked diseases despite minimal emissions, vector borne disease surge, he said malaria incidence in East African Highlands rose 37% between 2010 and 2024 due to warming, reversing decades of progress.”
He further talked about climate health catastrophe, heat related mortality, nutritional collapse, child anaemia, toxic food, pathogen explosion.
He further stated that the Objectives of NABHI include shifting from disease treatment to health promotion, prevention, curative, and rehabilitative services, professional responsibility and capacity building, NGO and international collaborations, with approach to prevent and ensure Community care, and systemic reform.
Omoragbon said Partnerships and stakeholders engagements are key, “Why this event is intentional is our call for potential partners, funders and technocrats to help with the execution of this project, fishers, women’s groups, youth associations, AU, West African coastal institututions; international and UN agencies, NGOs, marine institutes; Government, health, fisheries, environmental ministries; Private sector’s Eco tourism, aquaculture, green tech,” he said.
He called for collaboration and investment and invited UN bodies, Governments, NGOs, while stating that partnership models will include, grants, co-financing, advocacy, among others.
Speaking on project monitoring, reporting and impact measurement methodology, he said Reports would be made quarterly, annual C
community feedback, and multi stakeholders review system.
Launching the Health-Ocean-Climate-Nexus-Framework, Pastor Omoragbon expressed deed conviction that the project would succeed. He Said, “The presence and involvement of NLC, NIMASA, FMOH, DESOPADEC, FUPRE and other international collaborators, is a reality that collaboratively we can improve the livelihood of our coastal communities and their health.
Yusuf Kelani, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Climate Change with specialisation on Energy Transition, stated that to understand the interest of the president on climate change issues he created three positions, SSA on Climate Technology, SSA on climate finance and stakeholder engagement and SSA on Climate energy transition.
Yusuf. He said we must continue to look for solution to climate crisis, adding that the earth is heating up and humans are actually responsible for that and s such humans would have to bring about the solution and that is the reason we are looking at the area of mitigation and adaptation.He thank the organisers, Nurses Across the Borders International for putting the event together.
He said the government is pursuing energy transition, but I’m doing that the governmnis mindful of the impact of that on labour, recognizing the role of labour in national life. “In our NC 3.0 that was just submitted, we actually gave two targets: temporary target and permanent target. The first target is for 2025 and we have plan to reduce emission by 32% and everything is on top gear to achieve that. We are also looking at 2060 to have net zero. This is well captured in our energy transition plan, the carbon market activation has been approved; activities to meet these targets are in there. These are to show you that we are ready for business, we are bringing in investments, investments that will protect the jobs of our people, ” he said.
Delivered also at the side event was that by Charles Ozulumba, Sustainability Officer, Nature Echo Capital, a private climate and environmental consulting firm, he spoke on Integration of Health, Climate and Ocean Resilience.
