Nasarawa validates five-year health plan for climate risks
Nasarawa’s Ministry of Health has adopted the Federal Government’s Health National Adaptation Plan 2025–2030 as the basis for a state climate-health strategy. Officials said the plan identifies effects on services, infrastructure and disease patterns, and proposes interventions requiring approval from the state government before implementation.
Nasarawa State’s Ministry of Health has adopted the Federal Government’s Health National Adaptation Plan 2025–2030 and validated a state-level document intended to address climate-related risks to healthcare. The development was announced at a one-day stakeholders’ validation workshop held in Lafia on Friday. The state plan is designed to guide interventions over five years, subject to approval by the state government.
Dr Godwin Ewuga, the State Desk Officer for Climate Change and Health, said climate change was contributing to several health challenges. He identified disruption to health services, as well as injuries and deaths linked to flooding and other disasters, among the effects. Ewuga also said changing conditions were contributing to waterborne, foodborne and vector-borne diseases, including malaria.
He added that rising temperatures and heat stress could affect people with existing conditions such as hypertension, heart and kidney diseases, and asthma. According to Ewuga, the Health State Adaptation Plan is based on evidence about climate impacts on the health system and its infrastructure. It sets out proposed interventions, along with how they are expected to be delivered.
He said the document would be implemented if approved by the state government. Dr Ibrahim Alhassan, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said preparation of the document had taken about 20 months. The validation process involved officials from health, budget and planning, livestock, agriculture and human capital development, alongside representatives of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Renewable Energy Commission and the Red Cross.
Dr Peter Attah, the state director of public health, said Nasarawa was among the first 15 states in Nigeria to develop a Health State Adaptation Plan. He said the document was ready for the governor’s approval and would be implemented once the required approvals were obtained.
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