Health experts have sounded the alarm over the growing impact of climate change on public health in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the disproportionate risks faced by women and vulnerable populations.
The warning came during a high-level panel session held on Thursday in Abuja, themed: “Addressing the Effects of Climate Change on Health.” Stakeholders from health, policy, and civil society sectors convened to explore locally driven solutions, equity-based partnerships, and climate-resilient health systems in Africa.
Dr. Amina Dorayi, Regional Director at Pathfinder International, highlighted how extreme weather events like floods and heatwaves disrupt access to essential reproductive and maternal health services.
“Pregnancy does not pause for climate disasters,” Dorayi said, stressing that mobility challenges and supply chain breakdowns during emergencies often prevent women from accessing antenatal care and family planning services.
Dorayi further emphasized that climate-informed programming is crucial to safeguard women’s health during crises. She called on governments, civil society, and the private sector to prioritize women in climate response strategies by embedding health into climate policies and scaling up early warning systems.
Also speaking at the event, Mashishi Mokgadi of Organon, a global women’s health pharmaceutical company, stated that excluding women from climate-related health strategies undermines their effectiveness.
“If women and girls are not part of the climate conversation, how do we know what problems we are solving?” Mokgadi asked, urging the use of simplified, community-relevant language to ensure that even grassroots women are active participants in climate action.
She advocated for accessible policy implementation that ensures women are not just represented, but actively involved in shaping climate-health interventions.
Dr. Edwin Edeh, WHO Nigeria’s Coordinator for Public Health and Environment, said that health outcomes provide the most visible evidence of climate change’s impact
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“Whether it’s in Lagos or Malawi, the impact of climate change shows up at the health facility,” he noted.
Edeh revealed that a nationwide assessment by WHO and Nigeria’s Ministry of Health found that 21% of the national disease burden is linked to climate change—equivalent to one in five deaths in the coming years, many of which are preventable with effective interventions.
He said Nigeria is already piloting solar-powered health centres, reducing both operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and has launched training programs for a climate-smart health workforce.
“Climate resilience must be built with the people, not just for them,” Edeh stressed, urging investment in community engagement, data generation, and innovation.
Dr. Morires Atiko, CEO of the African Business Coalition for Health, urged the private sector to go beyond corporate social responsibility and integrate climate and health financing into core business operations.
“Climate activities are buried in social reporting and disconnected from health. This must change,” Atiko said.
She called for measurable climate action in business reporting, including tracking carbon footprints, adopting eco-friendly logistics, and investing in sustainable health infrastructure.
Atiko also emphasized the importance of multi-sector collaboration, involving innovation hubs, policymakers, and financial institutions in co-creating lasting solutions.