Oyo unveils technical group to tackle climate-related health challenges

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Oyo State Government has inaugurated the Oyo State Technical Working Group on Climate and Health to strengthen the state’s capacity to address public health challenges associated with climate change.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, stressing that the initiative was established through the state Ministry of Health to improve preparedness and response to climate-related health risks.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said climate change was no longer merely an environmental concern but a major public health challenge. She noted that rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, flooding and environmental degradation were already affecting residents.

According to her, the effects include heat-related illnesses, flooding, drought, vector- and water-borne diseases, respiratory conditions, food insecurity and other health emergencies. She added that the technical working group would help the state anticipate and respond effectively to such risks.

Ajetunmobi said the group comprises representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies, technical experts, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, academia and development partners, adding that their participation would strengthen coordination and technical support.

She explained that the group would coordinate risk assessments, provide technical guidance, generate evidence and strengthen preparedness while supporting the integration of climate considerations into health policies, programmes and service delivery. She also called for greater collaboration among government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and communities.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, represented by the Director of Tertiary Health Care Services, Dr. Idris Fasasi, said the inauguration marked a shift from reacting to climate-related emergencies to proactive prevention, preparedness and resilience. He identified disease surveillance, early-warning systems, community awareness, sustainable financing and climate-resilient health facilities as priorities.

Ayinde also called for special attention to vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, older people, people with disabilities, low-income households, farmers, outdoor workers and people living in flood-prone communities. Earlier, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Olaniyan Babatunde, urged members of the group to remain committed to building a healthier and more resilient Oyo State.