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Abuja’s Bold Blueprint: Pioneering Climate-Resilient Health for a Sustainable Africa

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Abuja, Nigeria’s vibrant capital, is emerging as a key player in advancing climate-resilient health initiatives amidst the continent’s escalating climate crisis, marked by rising climate-sensitive diseases, malnutrition, and displacement.

Addressing these interconnected challenges demands a holistic approach that integrates environmental, health, and socio-economic strategies.

Recently, the Harare Declaration, forged at the inaugural Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC) in Harare, Zimbabwe, brought together health ministers, officials, and experts from 20 African nations.

This pivotal document outlines essential strategies to strengthen health systems and equip them to withstand the severe impacts of climate change.

Following this, the second Africa Climate Forum (ACF), held in Abuja on October 14-15, 2024, focused on Africa’s Climate Future, advocating for comprehensive actions against climate change while promoting Sustainable Development. These forums emphasize the need for unified efforts in combating climate change and safeguarding public health.

Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, provides a guiding framework for collaborative action aimed at protecting vulnerable populations from the dual crises of climate change and health. It calls on individuals and communities, especially those of faith, to care for the Earth.

Initiatives inspired by this encyclical, such as tree planting and land restoration, play a crucial role in combating deforestation, enhancing carbon sequestration, and improving biodiversity.

The adoption of sustainable energy sources with a low environmental impact is also crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

In Nigeria, policies like the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy outline a roadmap for climate action, demonstrating the country’s commitment to international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.

Raising awareness about the impacts of climate change and fostering sustainable practices through education and community outreach empower citizens to take meaningful action.

Furthermore, communities lacking effective waste management systems should implement initiatives that convert waste into energy and promote recycling, thereby reducing methane emissions from landfills.

The Nigerian government is investing in renewable energy sources, with a particular focus on solar and wind power, to diminish dependence on fossil fuels. Initiatives like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are being explored to enhance vehicle storage capacity, providing a cleaner alternative to petrol, diesel, or LPG.

Abuja’s commitment to climate-resilient health initiatives not only addresses immediate health concerns but also paves the way for a sustainable future for Africa.

By integrating environmental stewardship with public health strategies, Nigeria is positioning itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, fostering resilience and well-being for its citizens.

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Health

FCTA Seals Illegal Hospital in Kuje Over Patient Deaths

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By Alexis Uchendu

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has shut down Dada’s Clinic & Maternity Limited in Kapwa, Gaube community, Kuje Area Council, over illegal operations and alleged patient deaths.

The closure, carried out by the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee under Ahmadu Abubakar, Director of the Medical and Diagnostics Department, followed reports of fatalities and unsafe medical practices.

The facility was sealed on Sunday, and a staff member, Mr. Sabiu, who falsely posed as a health worker, was arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation.

According to a statement from the FCTA, issued via the media aide of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the clinic was unregistered and operated in a rented apartment unfit for healthcare services. It allegedly disguised its operations as a medical outreach program.

The statement further revealed that a community elder recently died after undergoing a hernia operation at the clinic, with additional reports of patients requiring emergency care elsewhere after surviving unsafe procedures.

The FCT Minister investigations his administration’s zero tolerance for illegal health facilities, stressing the need for safe and regulated healthcare services.

An investigation into the clinic’s activities is ongoing.

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Abuja Reports

FG to Slash Dialysis Costs by 80% at FMC Abuja

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By Patrick Idowu 

In a major relief for kidney disease patients, the Federal Government has announced an 80% subsidy on dialysis treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Tuesday during the commissioning of a new clinic service building and ward centre at the hospital.

He emphasized that the initiative aims to make dialysis more accessible and affordable, aligning with the government’s broader healthcare reforms.

“This subsidy program, launched in 2024, is already in place in 10 selected federal tertiary health institutions, and FMC Jabi is now a strong candidate to join,” Salako stated.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring quality healthcare, a key pillar of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), which supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision of healthcare as a fundamental right.

Salako further highlighted the administration’s investments in strengthening tertiary healthcare, reducing the need for Nigerians to seek critical medical procedures, such as kidney transplants, abroad.

Meanwhile, FMC Abuja’s Chief Medical Director, Saad Ahmed, revealed that the newly inaugurated facility will enhance healthcare delivery, housing a dialysis and transplantation centre, pathology laboratories, and additional patient wards to ease hospital congestion.

He also announced the acquisition of a neurosurgical operating microscope to improve brain surgery services.

The subsidy initiative marks a significant step toward easing the financial burden of chronic kidney disease patients while bolstering Nigeria’s healthcare capacity.

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Health

NCDC: No Immediate Threat of HMPV in Nigeria

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By Adenike Lawal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has assured the public that the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), poses no immediate threat to Nigeria, despite global concerns over outbreaks.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, clarified that HMPV is not a new virus and has long been associated with respiratory infections, particularly in children and the elderly.

He likened it to other common respiratory viruses like influenza, emphasizing that there is no cause for alarm.

Dr. Idris confirmed that no cases of HMPV have been reported in Nigeria, but the NCDC remains on high alert, closely monitoring the situation in line with World Health Organization (WHO), guidelines.

He cited Nigeria’s experience in handling Ebola and COVID-19, highlighting the country’s strengthened public health infrastructure to tackle potential outbreaks.

To prevent respiratory infections, he urged Nigerians to maintain good hygiene and avoid crowded places.

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