Editor
…. Urging Nigerians to go greener, Stay Clean, for Climate Change is Real
By Fatima Saka
Climate change is impacting health in a multitude ways, leading to death and illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, the World Health Organization revealed.
According to WHO, the heatwaves, storms and floods, has led to disruption of food systems, increases in zoonoses and food-, water- and vector-borne diseases, and mental health issues.
This was disclosed by the WHO Country Representative Dr. Alexander Chimbaru,
at the commemoration of the 2024 National Environmental Sanitation Day. With the theme:”Go Greener, Stay Clean: Climate Change is Real.”
The country representative further reiterated that climate change is undermining social determinants for good health, such as livelihoods, equality and access to health care and social support structures.
Emphasizing on this year’s theme, Dr. Chimbaru stressed that this is a timely reminder of the urgent need for attitudinal change and comprehensive all-of-society action at both national and subnational levels to address poor sanitation and promote climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
He added that It is high time for Nations across the globe to promote actions that both reduce carbon emissions and improve health by supporting a rapid and equitable transition to a clean energy economy; ensuring that health is central to climate change mitigation policy that will accelerate mitigation actions that will bring the greatest health gains.
According to the WHO representative, in the short- to medium-term, the health impacts of climate change will be determined mainly by the vulnerability of populations, their resilience to the current rate of climate change and the extent and pace of adaptation. “In the longer- term, the effects will increasingly depend on the extent to which transformational action is taken now to reduce emissions and avoid the breaching of dangerous temperature thresholds and potential irreversible tipping points.
“By going greener we should adopt environmentally friendly practices such as recycling, composting, tree planting, reducing waste, and supporting renewable energy sources that will help the planet combat climate change.”
He further ascertained that WHO also enjoins us to promote the development and maintenance of green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, which can help absorb carbon dioxide, reduce urban heat islands, and improve air quality and promote mental health.
“We congratulate the Ministry and agencies supporting this event for using the National Environmental Sanitation Day to encourage community participation in clean-up drives, awareness campaigns, and the promotion of personal and environmental hygiene in local communities in the Federal Capital Territory and beyond.
“This helps to reduce commünicable diseases such as cholera affecting some states in the country.
“It is us as individuals, as communities as advocates who make Nigeria go green. An aggressive adoption of environmental hygiene practices and WASH measures in our communities is needed more urgently to prevent the ongoing spread of cholera in the country. Ladies and gentlemen, together, we can make a significant impact by improving sanitation and promoting health for all.”
However, urged Nigerians to Go Greener, Stay Clean, for Climate Change is Real.
