Authors: Prof Roma Chilengi, CPHIA 2023 Co-host; Director General, Zambia National Public Health Institute and Special Assistant to the President-Health and Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
In a world that is increasingly plagued by the growing threat of climate change, Africa stands at the precipice of a dual crisis. This crisis is not limited to rising temperatures or extreme weather events; it extends to the complex interplay between our environment and our health. From outbreaks of cholera in Mozambique to Marburg in Tanzania, we are witnessing an increase in infectious diseases, driven or exacerbated by the changing climate. The magnitude of these threats should not act as a deterrent, but as a call to action – a call to recognize the interconnectedness of climate and health, to understand the consequences of climate change, and to commit to tackling these threats head-on.
Across the continent, climate patterns no longer follow the predictable rhythms of the past – and these changes have far-reaching implications for our health. Long-lasting droughts, devastating floods, desertification and environmental degradation are disrupting ecosystems, threatening lives and livelihoods, and leaving communities vulnerable to the spread of disease. As ecosystems fragment and habitats shift, animals and humans find themselves in closer proximity, increasing the potential for zoonotic diseases – diseases that leap from animals to humans – and setting the stage for potentially devastating outbreaks. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns can also affect the distribution of disease-carrying vectors, such as mosquitoes, expanding their habitats to previously unaffected regions. This can lead to an increased prevalence of diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Meanwhile, droughts and changing precipitation patterns can result in water scarcity and poor water quality, leading to an increased risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.
For example, since January 2022, over 238,000 cholera cases and 4,327 deaths have been reported in 15 countries across Africa – one of the worst cholera outbreaks to hit the region in years. Floods, droughts, cyclones and other extreme weather events have exacerbated the outbreak, and urgent action is needed to strengthen countries’ readiness and response.
So, what’s the solution to this complex web of climate change and health emergencies? It begins with a shift in our thinking – a shift toward holistic alignment and greater collaboration across sectors. Policies and strategies that consider both environmental and health impacts are urgently needed. We must understand that climate adaptation and health resilience are not separate endeavours; they are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.
Initiatives like the Joint Emergency Preparedness and Response Action Plan (JEAP), led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and WHO, offer an important example of how collaborative efforts can help us adapt to climate crises. JEAP is a strategic partnership that will boost emergency preparedness and response efforts across Africa to ensure that disease outbreaks during humanitarian and climate crises are effectively managed. The plan will focus on several priority areas, including strengthening surveillance systems and genomic sequencing for quicker detection of disease outbreaks, stockpiling emergency supplies at newly established regional hubs to improve emergency response operations, and building workforce capacity to deploy first responders within 24-48 hours of a disease outbreak.
But it doesn’t end there. We must continuously fortify our health systems and infrastructure, strengthen healthcare facilities, train our health workforce, ensure access to essential medicines and vaccines, and invest in research, biosecurity, disease surveillance, and rapid response systems. All of these investments are critical to help countries mitigate the impact of health emergencies driven by climate change.
African nations, leaders and partners must also leverage global and regional institutions and platforms to align around shared strategies and develop action plans to accelerate progress. Earlier this year, the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC 2023) broke new ground by making climate change a central pillar of the conference, in an effort to break down barriers and foster greater collaboration between climate and health stakeholders. The AHAIC 2023 communiqué calls for a united front for climate action in Africa, to prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the health of African people.
Unfortunately, the recent Africa Climate Summit was a missed opportunity to reiterate this call to action, as the resulting Nairobi Declaration made no mention of the need for integrated, holistic approaches to address the joint crisis of climate change and health emergencies on the continent. While the declaration called for other important changes, such as the need for global financial reforms and debt restructuring to allow African countries to invest in climate action, we must ensure that health is better integrated into Africa’s climate agenda going forward.
The upcoming International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2023) in Lusaka, Zambia, presents an important opportunity to advance global and regional climate-health deliberation and action. CPHIA 2023 will unite African researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to strengthen scientific collaboration and innovation across the continent – with a key focus on building resilience in the face of climate threats and strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration to address climate change and health challenges holistically.
Safeguarding Africa’s health in the face of climate change is not just a responsibility – it is an imperative. The emerging and re-emerging diseases and health threats we face are increasingly intertwined with the consequences of climate change. African countries must rise to the challenge, dedicating the necessary resources and working across sectors to concurrently address climate change and build resilient health systems. In doing so, we have an opportunity to protect the health of our people and our environment, ensuring a healthier, more vibrant future for Africa. The time for action, collaboration, and unwavering commitment is now.
