Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250, 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress, WHO data shows
African leaders should scale up financing towards healthcare and invest more in climate-resilient health systems, according to The World Health Organisation (WHO).
Through its Director of Universal Health Coverage in Africa Dr Adelheid Onyango, WHO has appealed to African states to set aside more resources to handle climate-related health crises.
Addressing ministers of health from across Africa on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit 2023 (ACS23) in Kenya, Onyango expressed worry that the vagaries of extreme weather events might cripple Africa’s health systems.
“Africa heavily relies on donor support and it is not sustainable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, developed countries prioritised their needs, leaving African states to struggle to sustain their weak health systems,” said Onyango.
She said African states must prioritise building resilience and put money into mitigating the climate-linked health crises, even as they grapple with limited resources.
She pleaded with the leaders and delegates that as the continent works towards a common goal ahead of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, they should remember that health is the face of climate change and has a voice.
“Every climate crisis that we experience is going to end up in some loss of life or something that affects lives,” she said, adding that health should always be at the centre of climate change solutions.
She cited Malawi and Mozambique as perfect examples, where health systems are strained from cholera and malaria due to cyclones and other vagaries of climate change.
The ministerial meeting aimed to catalyse momentum for institutionalising health negotiations within UNFCCC at COP28.
The news made earlier this year that there will be a day dedicated to discussing the health impacts of climate change across the globe at COP28 was good news to the ears of many health stakeholders. While making the announcement, COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber said the move was meant to widen the scope of climate adaptation and foster climate resilience.
Some delegates blamed African governments for not prioritising enough resources to handle the effects of climate change. Some urged the region to appeal for support from countries in the Global North, which highly contribute to global warming with the devastating effects of climate change.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Susan Nakhumicha called for close coordination and partnerships between ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Transport and others for effective response to the effects of climate change.
“Among the delegates attending this summit are health experts because people need to be taught about the interplay between environmental degradation and health emergencies,” said CS Nakhumicha.
Malawi’s minister for Health, Dr Khumbize Chiponda said her country’s health systems are overwhelmed by adverse effects of climate change and there is an urgent need for regional and global interventions.
“It has been a tough time for Malawi. Cyclones are wreaking havoc in the southern region, leading to deaths. We also recently had a deadly cholera outbreak. On top of that, the country is yet to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 fully,” said Chiponda.
“Over 1,700 Malawians have so far died of cholera, with the country grappling with over 60,000 cases. Malawi had not had cholera cases in the past ten years. Needless to add, there are also malaria cases due to flooding,” she said.
Besides appealing for assistance, Chipondo said African governments should collaborate more to build resilience to handle unpredicted health crises.
According to WHO, climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of health — clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter, hence the need to action immediately.
Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250, 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress, WHO data shows.
“The direct damage cost to health is estimated to be between $2-4 billion per year by 2030. Areas with weak health infrastructure — mostly in developing countries — will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond. Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through better transport, food and energy-use choices can result in improved health, particularly through reduced air pollution,” reads a statement from WHO on climate change and health.
The general appeal from delegates to African health ministers was asking them to actively engage global forums like COP28 and high-level inter-ministerial dialogues in subsequent summits. Such participation is necessary for devising robust and health-inclusive policies for climate mitigation and adaptation.
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