Stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, called for urgent action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on human health, stressing the need for eco-friendly health facilities across Nigeria.
They made the call at a Health and Climate Change Workshop organised by the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), a non-governmental organisation.
The forum brought together policymakers, development partners and experts to develop strategies for safeguarding health systems against climate shocks.
Mr. Mohammed Mohammed, Deputy Director at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), underscored the importance of climate-friendly health facilities in tackling emerging challenges.
“We are creating an enabling environment to make sure those health facilities are climate friendly,” he said, adding that the agency had been training health workers to strengthen resilience in the health sector.
Mr. Steve Abuh, National Network Coordinator for CSDevNet, said the workshop was designed to explore ways stakeholders could address health-related climate challenges before they escalate into disasters.
“The aim is to move into concrete actions that would bring people out of shocks caused by climate change,” he explained.
Abuh expressed optimism that discussions at the workshop would lead to the development of a prototype climate-smart health model that could serve Abuja and be replicated across the country.
On his part, Dr Samuel Jinadu, Health and Climate Change Thematic Lead at CSDevNet, outlined climate change as one of the most significant health challenges of the 21st century.
“It affects health directly through extreme weather and indirectly through food security, migration and infectious diseases,” he said.
“Climate change adaptation means adjusting natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate impacts, with the aim of moderating harm, reducing vulnerabilities or taking advantage of potential opportunities.”
Similarly, Mrs. Elona Erezi, a representative of CSDevNet, advised that more healthcare facilities in Nigeria should be made eco-friendly to withstand climate-related health risks.
According to her, ensuring resilient, sustainable and climate-smart healthcare systems will be key to protecting vulnerable communities and reducing the burden of disease.
By Abigael Joshua