Beyond Hunger - Climate-Smart Solutions for a Healthier Nigeria

Climate change emerges as a global crisis with far-reaching implications for the environment and public health, as underscored by the World Health Organisation's projection of an additional 250,000 annual deaths between 2030 and 2050 due to climate-related factors, reports Oladimeji Solomon for Nigeria Health Watch.

The nexus between climate change, health, and nutrition becomes increasingly evident, particularly in vulnerable regions like Nigeria, where the Cadre Harmonisé analysis predicts severe food insecurity affecting around 26.5 million people by mid-2024.

Helen Keller International (HKI) addresses these challenges through the Advancing Nutrition Project (ANP), focusing on climate, health, and nutrition intersections. Initiatives such as the Food Systems Approach Programme and the Enhanced Homestead Food Production Programme are tailored to combat climate change impacts, offering training to agricultural workers and communities in climate-friendly practices.

By empowering small-scale farmers, including displaced and vulnerable women, with knowledge and resources, HKI aims to enhance food security, mitigate climate impact, and improve overall community well-being. Despite successes, challenges like high costs of climate-smart agro-inputs and traditional farming resistance persist, emphasizing the need for government support, awareness creation, and effective policy implementation to secure a resilient and sustainable future for Nigeria.