By Kingsley Agim
In a bid to tackle the rising health threats posed by climate change, the Cross River Ministry of Health has partnered with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to amplify climate change advocacy and grassroots awareness across the state.
The collaboration was unveiled during a courtesy visit by the Programme Manager and Desk Officer of the Climate Change and Environmental Health Unit, Mr. Asuquo Henry Eyibio, to the NOA State Directorate in Calabar. The visit is aimed at driving advocacy for the integration of climate resilience approaches into public health strategies.
Mr. Eyibio highlighted that climate change is no longer a distant environmental issue but a present and escalating public health crisis. “It is already contributing to increased cases of heat stress, water- and vector-borne diseases, malnutrition, and mental health problems in our communities,” he said. He revealed that Cross River State is particularly vulnerable due to its exposure to climate hazards and limited adaptive capacity, adding that the poor, elderly, children, and rural residents are the most affected.
“To address this, the Ministry established the Climate Change and Environmental Health Unit, which recently developed the Cross River State Climate Change and Health Adaptation Plan—the first of its kind in Nigeria’s South-South region. This plan outlines priority health risks and proposes community-based adaptation strategies such as improved surveillance, infrastructure upgrades, capacity building, and policy reforms,” Eyibio added.
Calling for NOA’s partnership, Mr. Eyibio proposed collaboration in several key areas including joint sensitization campaigns at the grassroots, development and dissemination of public health information materials in local languages, incorporation of climate-health topics into NOA’s regular orientation programs, deeper media engagement, and public dialogues. He also sought the agency’s support for the upcoming validation and dissemination of the newly developed adaptation plan.
In response, the NOA State Director, Mr. John Asanye, lauded the Ministry’s achievements, particularly the landmark adaptation plan. He pledged NOA’s full support, citing the agency’s robust network across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, including all 18 LGAs in Cross River State. “Our doors and our arms are open,” the NOA Director stated. “Let us do the right thing so we can reposition Cross River State for a healthier society and environment.”
He emphasized the need to integrate climate education into school curricula, asserting that young people are key to driving long-term behavioral change. “In everything concerning climate change, let us factor in the children—from nursery to secondary schools,” he said.
The strategic partnership signals a renewed effort to ensure that every Cross Riverian is informed, empowered, and equipped to respond to the health risks of climate change. With plans underway for a state-wide validation workshop of the adaptation plan, both agencies are poised to set a national example in proactive climate-health advocacy.
