To reduce the impact of climate change on health ecosystems, international non-governmental organisation, Jose Foundation, has began engagements with climate change bodies in Nigeria in effort to mitigate its impacts.
Jose Foundation, led by its president, Dr Martins Abhulimhen, together with the volunteer advisor on Special Projects, Dr Agbor Ebuta, commenced interactions with the director general, National Climate Change Council, Dr Salisu Dahiru, in Abuja with the sole aim of exploring areas of collaboration.
A statement signed by Dr Martins Abhulimhen, and issued to journalists yesterday stated that the strategic engagement was to carry all Nigerians in the fight against climate change.
The statement reads, “It is hoped that engagements like this will lead to measurable impact on how climate change effects on the health ecosystems are mitigated. Stakeholders can make a real difference for our people if engagement remains uncompromising and unrelenting.
“Infact, part of the problem has been that these impact has been predominantly negative.
“High temperature, emanating for green house gases effect and the dynamics of ozone depletion has meant that, most key stake-holders opine that temperatures will continue to rise, except drastic measures are instituted.
“Though several explanations or theories have been proposed on how this have impacted the health system, all agree that if something is not done, health indices especially in resource poor settings will progress from to bad to worse
“The spike in wild fires, adjustment in seasonal patterns, changes in known or previously studied and fairly established epidemiological patterns have meant that diseases control measures are quickly becoming archaic.
“Weather pattern changes, floods and droughts occurring in alarming proportions have translated to new disease outbreaks, changes in disease endemicity and unprecedented health conundrums.
“The economic impact of all of this, has meant that even funding sources for sustainable interventions are presently challenged, a strangulation of sources of funding for routine development or new strategic projects will not be without dire consequences.”
Abhulimhen further stated that the situation has already challenged health indices, poor maternal mortality and disturbing infant mortality ratios in the country.
“Any further denigration of this key health system indices will mean a spontaneous decline to unfathomable suffering by a majority of the population.
“Therefore all key stakeholders, big and not so big, must combine efforts to support the National Climate Change Council towards coordinating actions that will activate smart intersectoral interventions which will achieve the needful.
“Some desirable outcomes must focus at mitigation and rehabilitation efforts to ensure measureable escape from avoidable pains, by a majority of the populace who are at the receiving end,” he said.
Beyond the health ecosystems, Jose Foundations explored multiple frameworks to engage in other sectors of the economy.
The foundation is also poised to expand these engagement in a meaningful and sustainable manner.