The World Health Organisation, (WHO) has raised an alarm about the growing health threats posed by climate change in Nigeria, revealing that, in the near future, 21% of the country’s disease burden could be linked to climate-related factors.
This warning follows the release of Nigeria’s first-ever Climate Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report 2024, presented at the Joint Annual Review (JAR 2024) in Abuja on Friday.
WHO’s Head of Mission in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, highlighted the stark reality of climate change’s impact on public health. “Climate change is now recognised as the most significant threat to global health in the 21st century,” Mulombo said. “In Nigeria, it threatens the very foundations of health—clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food, and secure shelter. Without urgent action, it risks reversing decades of health progress.”
The Climate Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report 2024 projects that as climate change intensifies, nearly a quarter of Nigeria’s overall disease burden could be attributed to its effects, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifts in disease patterns.
This could exacerbate health risks for vulnerable populations, putting additional strain on the nation’s already overstretched health systems.
The report emphasises the urgent need for comprehensive climate-resilient health policies.
To this end, Nigeria has begun implementing the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP), which will guide future public health strategies in tackling climate-related risks.
Dr. Mulombo called for immediate action, noting, “We must strengthen health systems to protect Nigerians from climate impacts. WHO is committed to supporting Nigeria in this vital effort to build resilience and safeguard health for future generations.”
