Climate change experts in Africa warn of disproportionate health impacts on the continent due to existing challenges like poverty, fragile health systems, and economic constraints, which climate change exacerbates through rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological disruptions.
Africa’s average surface temperature in 2024 was 0.86°C above the 1991-2020 average, with North Africa warming fastest at 1.28°C above baseline.
Despite adaptation and mitigation measures, experts highlighted the major dangers of climate change on the health sector.
In March 2024, schools in South Sudan closed due to extreme heat, part of a global trend where 242 million pupils missed school due to extreme weather, many in sub-Saharan Africa.
Heat exposure aggravated chronic conditions, increased heat-related illnesses and mortality, with children particularly vulnerable due to physiological differences.
Malawi’s climate change national coordinator, Dominic Nyasula, estimated the country needs 1.7 billion USD to deal with the effects of climate change on health in 10 years.
Cyclone Fredy, which hit Malawi in 2023, continues to cause increased cases of malaria and maternal death, despite government efforts to address the problem.
Charcoal, firewood, industrial emissions, and vehicle emissions are major contributors to environmental degradation.
Apex University’s Mweetwa Mudenda highlighted the urban heat, pollution, and disease burden in Zambia, noting poor water quality and increasing cholera outbreaks due to climate change.
Global warming by 2080 is feared, along with rising respiratory infections like bronchitis, pneumonia, and cholera, due to urban flooding.
Despite minimal funding, efforts are made through design and policy solutions, such as urban cooling adaptations, green infrastructure, training local heat champions, and climate change education.
Climate change impacts Uganda’s Albertine region before oil drilling next year, according to Aryampa Brighton, a climate change advocate. Some communities haven’t been compensated for the construction of oil pipelines, which release fumes and pose respiratory health risks.
Without increased African efforts, malaria will remain the leading cause of disease in Africa, accounting for 94% of cases (233 million in 2022). Climate variables like temperature, rainfall, and humidity influence transmission.
Rising temperatures allow malaria-carrying mosquitoes to survive at higher altitudes in East Africa. Many African healthcare facilities lack climate resilience and can’t withstand heatwaves, floods, or maintain reliable energy for vaccine cold chains.
Climate impacts strain fragile systems dealing with HIV/AIDS, TB, and emerging infectious diseases.
Globally, 1.2 billion children face climate-related threats.
Climate change affected cereal harvests in Zambia and Zimbabwe, reducing them by 43% and 50% from five-year averages due to 2024 droughts. Food insecurity leads to malnutrition, weakened immunity, and increased hospitalisation rates.
Disease outbreaks persist in displacement camps due to inadequate sanitation and contaminated water.
African NDCs lack data, information, and finance, hindering healthcare development. Africa’s climate-health crisis demands urgent, coordinated action on community-centred adaptation, enhanced early warning systems, and integrated climate-health policies.
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