The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has declared that health must remain a priority concern in climate change interventions, stressing that integrating healthcare into climate adaptation and emergency response is critical to strengthening public health security and protecting vulnerable communities.
Ayuk stated this on Thursday while receiving a delegation from Save the Children International (SCI) at the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Calabar following the successful conclusion of the two-day State-Level Design Workshop for the Adapt Together for Health (ATAH) Green Climate Fund (GCF) Anticipated Project.
The delegation visited the Commissioner to present the outcomes of the workshop, provide updates on the co-design of the anticipated Green Climate Fund proposal and appreciate the Ministry’s support throughout the process. The proposed intervention will target Calabar South, Odukpani, Abi and Ogoja Local Government Areas.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Ayuk noted that climate change is increasingly driving the incidence of malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, snake bites and other public health threats, making it imperative for governments to integrate health into climate action and disaster management.
He lamented that emergency response efforts often focus on food, shelter and clothing while neglecting the medical consequences of disasters, insisting that healthcare must be embedded in every humanitarian intervention.
“The prospects in terms of health complications are often downplayed,” the Commissioner said, explaining that he had already constituted a rapid assessment team to evaluate the health implications of the recent flooding across affected communities.
He directed the team to document affected households and collect health-specific data, including cases of fever, diarrhoea and snake bites, noting that such evidence would support timely interventions and strengthen disease surveillance during emergencies.
Dr. Ayuk reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to expanding collaboration with development partners to build climate-resilient health systems, adding that climate programmes must be inclusive and place public health at the centre of planning and implementation.
Speaking on behalf of Save the Children International, Dr. Rachel Taylor, Climate and Health Advisor, commended Cross River State for prioritising health within its climate adaptation agenda and disclosed that the organisation is seeking 53 million US dollars from the Green Climate Fund for implementation in Cross River and Bauchi states, subject to counterpart funding.
Also speaking, Dr. Adaeze Oguuche, Head of Health and Nutrition, Save the Children International, said the organisation had concluded strategic planning sessions to develop context-specific interventions for participating local government areas and appreciated the state government’s support for the initiative.
Earlier, Dr. Mrs. Yemisi Eshinromonu, Deputy Director, Public Health II, highlighted the multi-sectoral approach of the programme, which integrates health, nutrition, education, child protection and climate resilience to improve community well-being.
The Climate Change Officer of the State Ministry of Health, Mr. Asuquo Henry Eyibio, who introduced the delegation, commended Save the Children International for its technical support in developing the Green Climate Fund-compliant ATAH proposal, expressing confidence that the partnership would strengthen climate resilience and improve health outcomes across Cross River State.
By Kingsley Agim
