A 50 man committee has been inaugurated to coordinate and guide actions on climate change and its impacts on public health across sectors in Ondo State.
Inaugurating the committee members in Akure on Saturday, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka called on members which were drawn across government institutions and industries to embrace teamwork, transparency, accountability and patriotism as essential qualities for effective leadership and national development.
He emphasized that leadership is not about individual achievement but about working collectively to achieve shared goals.
“A leader must love the system. He must love the country,” he said.
While reacting, representative of The World Health Organization(WHO), Dr. Ibrahim Adebayo reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the state in addressing the growing health challenges associated with climate change.
He commended the state Ministry of Health for taking proactive steps to address the impact of climate change on public health.
According to him, climate change has become a reality that can no longer be ignored, as its effects are increasingly being felt across various sectors, particularly health.
He noted that rising incidents of flooding and disease outbreaks are among the direct consequences of climate change, posing serious public health threats to communities.
“As we know, climate change is here with us whether we like it or not. We can already see its impact on health and many other sectors in the state,” he said.
The WHO representative explained that frequent flooding incidents across the country have contributed to increased health risks, while outbreaks of infectious diseases have become more common due to changing environmental conditions.
He noted that Ondo State, like many other parts of Nigeria, has witnessed multiple outbreaks of epidemic diseases, a situation he linked to the effects of climate change.
Adebayo further observed that climate-related health threats have become a global concern, citing emerging disease outbreaks in different parts of the world and the increasing need for countries to strengthen preparedness and response mechanisms.Language Resources