WHO: Climate Crisis Threatens Food Security for 60 Million People in Africa
By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Kanempress
7th July 2023
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, has expressed concern about the impending food insecurity in the Horn of Africa as a result of the climate crisis.
He emphasized that the climate crisis is a significant determinant of human health outcomes and has already led to hunger, migration, and disease in the region, putting strain on health services.
He said, “Approximately 60 million people in the greater Horn of Africa, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, are expected to face food insecurity this year.”
Ghebreyesus highlighted that extreme weather events like droughts, floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves, exacerbated by El Niño and global warming, are causing harm to human health.
He mentioned that June 3 witnessed the hottest day ever recorded globally.
Adding that the changing weather patterns caused by the climate crisis are increasing the density and geographical spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes, particularly affecting malaria in Africa.
Ghebreyesus, however, announced the allocation of 18 million doses of the RTS, S vaccine to 12 African countries to combat malaria, a disease that remains a major cause of death in the continent, particularly among children under five years old.
He mentioned that the RTS, S vaccine has proven to be safe and effective, resulting in a significant reduction in severe malaria cases and child mortality.
Additionally, he highlighted the interest expressed by 28 African countries in receiving the RTS, S vaccine.
He said that a second vaccine is currently under review for pre-qualification and if successful, it would provide additional supply in the short term.
