DR Yerima Tarfa said we must end climate change and conflict in Africa as this has continued to have adverse effects on the continent. He made this disclosure on Thursday at the ongoing 5th African Conference On Emerging Infectious Diseases And Biosecurity held at Ladi Kwali hall, Sheraton hotel and Towers Abuja.
His position was contained in a paper he presented at the event. According to him, climate change is a global phenomenon which has become more rapid in the past 150-200 years due to human activities. The researcher listed some of the impacts of climate change to include Health, Agriculture, Forestry, Water resources, Coastal systems and Ecosystem services.
On Biosecurity, he said it is a series of measures to protect against the entry and spread of pests and diseases. He highlighted some of the government efforts in tackling climate change to so far include National policy on climate change, Designated authority for Green climate fund, Adaptation fund, National determined contribution document, West Africa science service centre and adaptive land use (WASCAL), Linkage centre for research, Inter-ministerial committee on climate change, Senate and House committees on climate change, Enhanced advocacy, Global climate diplomacy, Generation of knowledge products on climate change, Issuance of sovereign Green bonds to leverage finances to tackle climate change and Greening budget.
Dr Yerima opined that the health sector can educate colleagues and communities on links between climate change, infectious diseases and what can be done to prevent adverse health impacts, promote mitigation and adaptation strategies related to climate change and infectious diseases and above all the development of a formal or informal National Biosecurity Network.