| Issue/Objective |
Climate change has been identified as potentially the greatest health challenge of the 21th Century, and represents a significant public health threat especially in Africa, with a rising impact on vulnerable populations,disruptions of essential health services and a growing morbi-mortality due to climate change, tackling these challenges requires strengthening health policies and improving public health systems resilience across Africa in order to improve the health outcomes. |
| Methodology/Approach |
A comprehensive review of health policy documents that were analyzed using the Kingdon Multiple Streams Framework to analyze health policies from African countries covering the period from 2000 to 2024 related to climate change and health, focusing on problem stream, Policy stream, and political stream. data were gathered through a systematic literature review, policy document analysis, and reports from WHO and IPCC. This analysis aimed to evaluate the extent of climate change action integration within health policies, identify critical gaps, assess the effectiveness of policy implementation, and the adequacy of financial allocation and data resources. |
| Results |
The integration of climate change into health policies varies across Africa. While some countries have developed detailed frameworks, many policies only address climate change in a general manner. Financial resources are insufficient, with an estimated 60% shortfall compared to the required $2 billion annually. Data systems are underdeveloped, with only 25% of countries having robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The impacts of climate change are evident in increased heat-related illnesses, expanded vector-borne disease areas, and disruptions to health services due to extreme weather events. These challenges are exacerbated by limited implementation capacity and inadequate infrastructure for managing climate-related health impacts. |
| Discussion/Conclusion |
This study highlights significant gaps in the integration of climate change into health policies across Africa. Key recommendations include enhancing the incorporation of climate considerations into health policies, increasing financial investments, and improving data systems to better address climate-related health challenges and strengthen public health climate related interventions. |
| Presenters and affiliations |
Ali Jeremi Global Medical Hub |
