Abuja: Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, will lead a multi-sector initiative to strengthen health financing and climate adaptation efforts across selected African countries.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday by the Spokesperson to Osinbajo, Mohammed Brimah, announces that Osinbajo will spearhead the programme in five West African countries, namely C´te d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
Brimah noted that the initiative is being undertaken by Future Perspectives, in partnership with its development and policy division, the Africa Centre for Future Perspectives, to generate evidence and guide strategies on health financing and climate resilience. The initiative aims to promote domestic health financing solutions to strengthen African health systems amid growing climate-related challenges.
Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are facing increasing pressure to enhance health infrastructure while managing rising debt and frequent climate-induced shocks. The situation has worsened food insecurity, increased vector-borne diseases, and placed additional pressure on already vulnerable health systems. The effects of climate change are expected to vary across regions and populations, with poor and vulnerable communities in developing economies likely to suffer the most.
The consequences of climate change could also affect other sectors, including health, shelter, and security. The initiative 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 President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.