Disease Burden Increases In Nigeria Due To Climate Change crisis, Says Mamora

The Federal Government says that the environmental crisis in Nigeria and across the globe is worsening diseases in Nigeria. In his speech on World Health Day held on Thursday in Abuja, Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunmibe Mamora, said that the effect of COVID-19 and the climate change crisis has unsettled the lives of millions of people worldwide. According to the minister, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs are particularly hard hit.

Furthermore, the environmental crisis has led to worsening non-communicable diseases, enhancing an ecosystem where various infectious diseases foster, worsening air quality, food and water shortages, and deteriorating mental health illness,” he explained. “From heat-related injuries and forest fire air pollution to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries, it is important that we make every effort,” said Mamora.

“From heat-related injuries and forest fire air pollution to worsening seasonal allergies and storm-related illness and injuries, it is important that we make every effort,” said Mamora.

Alexander Chimbaru, Deputy Country Representative for Nigeria, spoke at the event, pointing out that climate change is negatively impacting air and water quality, food security, and human habitat and shelter with direct consequences for health.

In his view, the knock-on effects of NCDs on heart disease, lung disease, stroke, and cancer, among others, are evident from statistics showing that this proportion of Africa’s deaths is growing as well.

“In the African region, NCDs are set to overtake communicable diseases, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional conditions combined, to become the leading cause of death by 2030,” he stated. “COVID-19, along with spiralling obesity, diabetes and hypertension rates, compounds the challenge, highlighting the urgency of a multi-sectoral response.”