In a joint statement, the agencies underscored that the partnership would allow for more robust situational awareness of diseases like cholera and malaria, which are influenced by climate variations. By linking climate patterns with disease trends, NiMet and NCDC aim to improve predictive modeling, allowing for more accurate risk assessments and preemptive actions.
NiMet’s Director General, Prof. Charles Anosike, lauded the MoU as a vital step for both agencies. He emphasized the growing impact of climate change on public health, noting that this collaboration will enhance response systems to climate-related health threats. Anosike stated that the partnership aligns with the United Nations’ early warning system goals, emphasizing the need to invest in climate resilience to protect citizens.
Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the partnership as the start of a data-sharing initiative that will enable the NCDC to monitor the intersection of climate and health more effectively. “This collaboration will strengthen our ability to prevent and respond to public health threats in Nigeria, benefiting the entire nation,” Idris stated.
Through this partnership, NiMet and NCDC are set to improve outbreak prediction, expand preparedness, and bolster institutional capacity, ultimately advancing public health and resilience against climate change in Nigeria.
