The Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Health, has inaugurated the Oyo State Technical Working Group on Climate and Health to strengthen the state’s capacity to address the growing public health risks associated with climate change.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan.
Speaking at the inauguration held at the Ministry of Health’s conference room, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said climate change had evolved from an environmental concern into a major public health challenge with direct consequences for residents.
She said rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather events were already contributing to heat-related illnesses, flooding, drought, vector- and water-borne diseases, respiratory conditions, food insecurity and other health emergencies in the state.
“In Oyo State, we are already witnessing some of these effects through rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, flooding and environmental degradation, all of which have implications for the health and well-being of our people,” Ajetunmobi said.
The commissioner said the TWG comprised representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies, technical experts, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, academia and other development partners.
She explained that the group would strengthen the health sector’s ability to anticipate, prepare for and respond to climate-related health risks while ensuring the continuity of essential health services.
According to her, the working group would serve as a platform for coordinated planning, technical guidance, risk assessment, evidence generation, preparedness and response, while supporting the integration of climate considerations into health policies, programmes and service delivery.
Ajetunmobi stressed that building a climate-resilient health system required collaboration beyond the Ministry of Health. She therefore called for active participation from relevant government agencies, development partners, academic institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Akintunde Ayinde, represented by the Director of Tertiary Health Care Services, Dr Idris Fasasi, described the inauguration as a critical step towards moving the state from reacting to climate-related emergencies to proactive prevention, preparedness and resilience.
Ayinde said climate change had become a major health, development and equity issue, contributing to flooding, drought, food insecurity, malnutrition, infectious diseases, injuries, displacement, psychological distress, extreme heat and worsening cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
He identified the responsibilities of the TWG to include assessing climate-related health risks and developing vulnerability profiles, strengthening disease surveillance and early-warning systems, improving community awareness and emergency preparedness, and mobilising sustainable financing.
Other responsibilities include integrating climate-health considerations into state policies, budgets and programmes, as well as developing climate-resilient health facilities equipped with reliable energy, safe water, sanitation and waste management systems.
Ayinde emphasised the need to prioritise vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, older persons, persons with disabilities, people living with chronic illnesses, low-income households, farmers, outdoor workers and residents of flood-prone communities.
He also called for stronger research collaboration with the University of Ibadan and other relevant institutions to generate evidence and develop solutions tailored to the state’s climate-related health challenges.
“Success will not be measured by the number of meetings or reports produced, but by whether our people become safer and our health system more resilient. We must use climate information to guide public health decisions and protect vulnerable communities before disasters occur,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr Olaniyan Babatunde, appreciated stakeholders for their participation and urged members of the working group to remain committed and proactive in carrying out their responsibilities.