Africa CDC launches framework to combat health impact of climate change.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched a strategic framework to address the health impacts of climate change, a pressing public health challenge.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, who claimed that climate change is already causing havoc across Africa, driving extreme weather events, shifting disease patterns, food insecurity, and waterborne illnesses, noted that a review of 2,000 public health events between 2001 and 2021 found that 56% were linked to climate change.
He explained that the framework, which offers a roadmap to build climate-resilient health systems and communities across African Union Member States, emphasizes robust institutional arrangements and is built around seven guiding principles, comprising One Health Approach, Partnerships and Collaborations, Sustained Investment, Advanced Technology and Infrastructure, Community Engagement, Accountability and Transparency, and Equity and Inclusion.
He further said that by aligning with this framework, African countries can reduce climate-induced health risks and protect the health of their people.
On his part, a Public Health expert, Dr. Gabriel Adakole, said that the framework, which provides Nigeria with a roadmap to build climate-resilient health systems, improve disaster preparedness, and ensure more coordinated public health responses, would empower policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to anticipate, adapt to, and mitigate the adverse health effects of climate change.
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