By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is set to spearhead a new multi-sectoral initiative aimed at strengthening health financing and climate adaptation strategies across five West African nations.
According to a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by his Spokesperson, Mohammed Brimah, the programme will be implemented in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
The project is being driven by Future Perspectives, in collaboration with its policy and development division, the Africa Centre for Future Perspectives. The core objective is to generate critical evidence and formulate strategic frameworks that address the intertwined challenges of healthcare funding and climate resilience.
The initiative responds to the mounting pressure on Sub-Saharan African governments to bolster health infrastructure while simultaneously grappling with rising debt and an increase in climate-induced shocks. These environmental pressures are exacerbating food insecurity, fueling the spread of vector-borne diseases, and placing an immense strain on already fragile health systems.
The statement highlighted that the adverse effects of climate change will not be uniform, with impoverished and vulnerable communities in developing economies expected to bear the heaviest burden. These consequences extend beyond the environment, threatening critical sectors such as health, shelter, and security.
In response to these challenges, the initiative underscores the urgent need for coordinated, multi-sectoral action and innovative domestic financing solutions to build resilient health systems across the continent.
To launch the programme, Prof. Osinbajo will convene an inaugural high-level consultation in Sierra Leone from March 11 to March 13. He will be joined by the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio. The closed-door meeting will bring together senior ministers and regional leaders to deliberate on concrete steps to advance climate-health financing efforts in the region.
