US Expert Attributes Nigeria's Malaria Burden To High Emissions

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Director of Center for Environmental Journalism, United States, Prof Tom Yulsman has attributed the frequent malaria attacks in Nigeria to high emissions.

Yulsman provided the insight at a one-day virtual capacity building programme for Environment journalists, organised by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Abuja recently.

Currently, Nigeria accounts for 0.23 percent of global emissions given its patronage of high emittant vehicles and other gadgets from developed countries.

Aside high emissions from Carbondioxide, there is an indication that climate change would increase malaria burden in the country.

Speaking on: "From Global to Local: An Overview of Climate Change for Journalists", he stated that anopheles mosquitoes which transmit malaria thrive in high temperatures, humidity and rainfall.

Yulsman, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Journalism, University of Colorado, Boulder, US, hinted that Nigeria accounted for 27 percent of global malaria cases and 38 percent of global malaria deaths among children under five in 2021.

He quoted the World Heaith Organisation as saying that malaria decreased by 25 percent between 2000 and 2021, while child death rates decreased by 16 percent between 2010 and 2020.

This, he attributed to the use of insecticide treated bed nets, preventive treatments, testing and malaria medicine.

Yulsman revealed that persons living in the least developed countries are 10 times at risk of experiencing climate disasters than individuals in wealthy countries annually.

The don hinted that climate change is a threat to humans and planetary health, adding that window of opportunities, meant to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all are shutting down.

“Climate resilient development integrates adaptation and mitigation to advance sustainable development for all, and is enabled by increased international cooperation including improved access to adequate financial resources, particularly for vulnerable regions, sectors and groups, and inclusive governance and coordinated policies", he added.

Yulsman revealed that climate change worsened activities in the lower Niger Basin and contributed to the shrinking of Lake Chad to more than 80 percent of its original capacity.

He quoted a report from World Weather Attribution as saying that climate change excarbated heavy rainfall, leading to large scale flooding in highly vulnerable communities in West Africa especially Nigeria.

The director disclosed that the devastating impacts of climate change were further exacerbated by the proximity of human settlements, infrastructure and agricultural land to flood plains and ongoing political and economic instability.

Comments

EHCON Unveils Tech To Phase-out Vehicular Emissions, Targets Billions Of IGR

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Baba (left) monitoring the processes while the Field Technicians runs the test with 3DATX Integrated Portable Emissions Measurement System (IPEMS) technology on Friday in Abuja. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE. Committed to green economy, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has unveiled vehicular emissions testing technology, meant to phase-out million tons of carbon emissions from the roads and improve air worthiness. The technology, Integrated Portable Emissions Measurement System (IPEMS) which is the first of its kind to be used in the entire Africa, was designed to control emissions by connecting a 3DATX technology and software to a car while monitoring the process through a computer. IPEMS provides gaseous and nanoparticle measurements with a proprietary cartridge system. It is designed with three sensor cartridge ports that provides an opportunity to customize each unit for y

National Parks Panacea In Mitigating Climate Change- Olory

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Conservator of Park, Cross River National Park, CP Caroline Olory has disclosed that National Parks hold the key to mitigating climate change across the country. She stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Development Agenda in collaboration with Environmental Media Correspondents Assodiation of Nigeria with the theme: "Climate Change and COP28: The Way Forward For Nigeria." The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) scheduled to hold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, will garner more than 70,000 participants, including heads of state and government, government officials, representatives of international organisations, business leaders, academics and civil society organisations. Olory lamented that climate disasters are happening at frightening rates in Nigeria, and a panacea to cushion the effect is the standing forest which serves as carbon sink that would absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. She informed

Emerging Diseases: EHCON Faults Health Workers For Neglecting PPEs

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L-R: Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmud Adam Kambari during a Ministerial press briefing on Monday in Abuja. The Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has faulted health workers for neglecting the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in treating patients taunted by emerging diseases. This followed the outbreak of an Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) suspected to be Lassa Fever at the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna State last week. News Rider reports that a circular issued on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, by the Acting Corps Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, Brigadier General S.O Okoigi revealed that the index patient died at the hospital after presenting symptoms of febrile illness while three health workers died within 48 hours. The PPEs are goggles, masks, glov

News Rider

Search This Blog