BY UTUTE VICTOR CHIBUEZE
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is set to lead a multi-sector initiative to strengthen health financing and climate adaptation across selected African countries.
This was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja by his spokesperson, Mohammed Brimah.
According to the statement, governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are facing increasing pressure to strengthen health infrastructure while dealing with rising debt burdens and frequent climate-induced shocks.
It noted that the situation has worsened food insecurity, increased the spread of vector-borne diseases and placed additional strain on already fragile health systems.
The statement also warned that the effects of climate change would vary across regions and populations, with poor and vulnerable communities in developing economies likely to suffer the most.
It added that climate change could have far-reaching consequences for sectors such as health, shelter and security.
The initiative, it said, underscores the need for coordinated multi-sector responses and innovative health financing strategies to build resilient systems across Africa.
Osinbajo is expected to convene an inaugural high-level consultation in Sierra Leone from March 11 to March 13 alongside the country’s president, Julius Maada Bio.
The meeting will bring together senior ministers and national leaders to deliberate on advancing climate-health financing efforts across the region.