The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has sounded the alarm on climate change, calling it a public health emergency that threatens to derail progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) across the region. The regional bloc emphasized the urgent need for collaboration among member states to build resilient and sustainable health systems capable of withstanding climate-related shocks.
Speaking during a recent regional health forum, IGAD officials highlighted that climate change is not only an environmental concern but also a pressing health issue. Rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and changing weather patterns have increased the spread of infectious diseases, malnutrition, and displacement-related health challenges. These threats, IGAD noted, are putting immense strain on already fragile healthcare systems.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat Climate,it is a public health emergency that is already affecting the wellbeing of our people,” an IGAD spokesperson said. “We must work together to strengthen our health systems and ensure that they can adapt to the realities of a changing climate.”
IGAD urged governments, development partners, and the private sector to invest in climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure, disease surveillance, and emergency response mechanisms. The organization also stressed the importance of integrating climate adaptation strategies into health policies and programs at both national and regional levels.
Health experts at the forum underscored that achieving universal health coverage in the IGAD region comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda will require coordinated efforts and sustainable financing.
By fostering collaboration across borders and sectors, IGAD believes the region can better protect its communities from the dual challenges of climate change and public health crises, ensuring no one is left behind on the path to UHC.
