By: Mariama Njie
Medical Research Council Unit in The Gambia has commenced a three days planetary health conference that seeks to showcase and stimulate existing and new planetary health research conducted in West Africa.
The conference which is in partnership with London School of hygiene tropical medicine and Gambia government also aims outline the impact of projected environmental change on health and human wellbeing in West Africa.
It brought together top regional and global officials and national scientific leaders in climate change field as well as policy makers, holding under the theme ‘climate Change and planetary Health in West Africa: Reviewing the evidence, identifying the gaps and finding solution.’
Professor Martin Antonio an official of MRC Unit in The Gambia said: “it I s clear that ongoing environmental changes, including higher temperatures, less predictable rainfall and rising sea levels will have significant impacts on global health.”
He said West Africa has been identified by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change as a climate change hotspot.
According to him, in the Gambia temperature has been rising since the 1940s by around 0.5 degrees C per decade and the current mean temperature of 28 degree is protected to increase by 34.5 degree C by 2100.
Professor Martin said simultaneously and annual, rainfall in the Gambia has decrease by around 30% from 1950-2000.
Professor Alan Dangour, Direct of LSHTM’s Center on Climate Change & Planetary Health Conference Co-Chair said: “countries in West Africa are already experiencing serious impacts that climate change is having on health”.
He added that: “We hope that this conference will highlight the urgent actions that are required in West Africa to safeguard the health of people and planet”.