Health development non-governmental international organisation Amref Health Africa has stressed the need for a paradigm shift so that climate justice can become a reality.
Climate justice is a concept used to refer to the unequal historical responsibility that countries and communities bear in relation to the climate crisis.
It suggests that countries, industries, businesses and people that have become wealthy from emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases have a responsibility of helping those affected by climate change.
Speaking in the context of a three-day regional workshop on climate change and health that winds up in Lilongwe today, Amref Health Africa Chief Executive Officer Githinji Gitahi noted that health has been ignored for a long time in climate discussions.
“It is imperative that we fully integrate health into the climate justice dialogue. By doing so, we can foster more comprehensive strategies that safeguard the wellbeing of communities while addressing the global climate crisis,” Gitahi said.
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Amref Health Africa has hosted the workshop in partnership with the Malawi Government, Pan- African Climate Justice Alliance (Pacja), African Institute for Development Policy and World Health Organisation.
Its aim is to build consensus, share insights and amplify the African common position on health within the context of climate change.
Pacja Executive Director Mithika Mwenda underscored the “critical need” for enhanced financial support.
“In global multilateral funding systems, only 0.5 percent of funding is allocated to the health sector. Additionally, less than half of the required needs for water, sanitation and hygiene financing are met.
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“We must advocate for greater funding to bridge these gaps, especially in the realms of mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, response measures and addressing the needs of youths and gender, particularly within the African context,” Mwenda said.
In her opening address, Heath Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda challenged African countries to find solutions to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and disabilities caused by climate change-induced health challenges.
“Our voices unite to advocate for a common position that transcends boundaries, resonates through diverse sectors and rallies for escalated funding.
“This funding is the lifeline needed to safeguard both the health and the future of our communities,” Kandodo Chiponda said.
During the workshop, participants engaged in discussions to develop a shared understanding of Africa’s common position on health and climate change.
The “united stance” aims to shape policy decisions, drive advocacy efforts and guide collaborative actions leading up to the Conference of the Parties’ 28th edition to take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
