Pan-African Multilateral Partnership on Climate Change and Health
When: Monday, 23rd May 2022, 17:30-19:00 CET
Where: InterContinental Geneve, Ballroom B, Chem. du Petit-Saconnex 7-9, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
and via Zoom
Register for both in-person and virtual attendance
Convened by: Ministry of Health, Kenya; Global Climate and Health Alliance; Amref Health Africa; World Health Organization; Pathfinder; Kenya Climate Innovation Center; African Institute for Development Policy
About the event:
In spite of the glaring effects of climate change on Africa’s population, the voice of the most vulnerable has not found space in decision making tables.
The poor, primarily in developing countries, are expected to be disproportionately affected and consequently in the greatest need of adaptation strategies in the face of climate variability and change. Climate change threatens to deepen existing health vulnerabilities and create new ones including the geographic spread of climate-sensitive communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The impacts of climate change are also evident at the systems level, particularly within health services and the provision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), eroding progress towards its three dimensions of (i) coverage of the people in need of care, (ii) cost of treatment, and (iii) the care services available. The crisis is also linked to increased food insecurities and hunger, as well as potential lack of clean water. It is affecting women and youth disproportionately, and hence worsening gender inequalities, with overarching ripple effects on access to education and income, thereby promoting negative social-cultural norms.
This side event aims to bring together multiple countries in Africa to generate high level conversation, debate and political solutions to boost progress in the global efforts to adapt and mitigate against climate change effects on universal health coverage, with women and youth at the centre.
Expected outcomes
- The initiation of multi-sectoral South-to-South dialogue on climate change and health in line with the Libreville Declaration on Health and Environment in Africa.
- Formation of Pan-African Multilateral Partnership for Climate Change and Health as a means for scaling up the climate action.
- Civil societies and governments showcase achievements towards sustainable adaptation and mitigation measures against climate change with women, youth and universal health coverage in focus.
Program
Moderator – Dr Mercy Mwangangi: Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Health – Kenya
Curtain Raiser: The Nexus between Climate Change and Health – Amref Health Africa, Pathfinder International, Afridep, and the Kenya Climate Change Innovation Centre.
Keynote speaker
Panel 1: The policy perspective on climate change and health
Moderator: Dr Maria Neira, Director Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization
Panel 2: Putting youth and women at the center of climate change and health actions
Moderator: Youth and Women champion – Lizz Ntonjira, Amref Health Africa
Wrap-up & Closing Remarks: Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, EGH – Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health Kenya