The Katsina State Government has initiated the development of a comprehensive Health Adaptation Plan aimed at addressing the rising impacts of climate change on public health and healthcare service delivery across the state
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua, during a three-day workshop on Health Adaptation Planning held in Kano and organised in collaboration with the FCDO Lafiya Programme and the Nigeria Partnership for a Healthier Future
Represented by Dr Muawiyah Aliyu, Director of Public Health and Chairman of the Technical Working Group on the Health Adaptation Plan, the Commissioner said the plan is being developed by a multi-sectoral technical group comprising representatives from key stakeholders across health, environment, and development sectors
Dr Aliyu noted that climate change is already impacting the state’s health landscape, leading to a surge in diseases that were once under control but are now becoming harder to manage due to changing weather patterns and environmental stress
He explained that the Katsina State Government has established a climate-sensitive disease surveillance system to ensure early detection and rapid response to emerging health threats linked to climate change
The state is also implementing a range of mitigation and adaptation strategies which include the development of climate-resilient health infrastructure, community awareness campaigns on climate-related health risks, water sanitation and hygiene interventions in vulnerable areas, training of healthcare workers on climate-smart service delivery, and the provision of solar power in health facilities to reduce reliance on generators and curb greenhouse gas emissions
Dr Aliyu added that the government has set up three dedicated committees to coordinate its climate resilience efforts including the State Council on Climate Change chaired by the Governor, the State Climate Technical Committee chaired by the Commissioner for Environment, and the State Forum on Climate Change chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment
In his remarks, Dr Yusuf Gide, Director at the Katsina State Ministry of Environment, identified human-induced activities such as deforestation, land degradation, and the burning of fossil fuels as major contributors to climate change
He stressed the importance of afforestation and reforestation as critical strategies for reversing environmental damage and mitigating climate risks
Also speaking at the workshop, Hajiya Rukayya Mohammad from the National Council on Climate Change said the Federal Ministry of Health in partnership with the council is supporting states to adapt the Health National Adaptation Plan to suit their specific needs
She said the goal is to help states better understand the connection between climate change and public health and to support the integration of climate considerations into health sector planning and programming
The workshop attracted wide participation from government agencies, health experts, development partners, and civil society actors working to build climate-resilient health systems across Nigeria.