Pandemic Preparedness in the Context of Climate Change

Pictures from the CEPI-Hosted Fireside Chat at the 2024 Future of Health Conference 
which in Abuja on October 24, 2024

By Adetayo Adetokun

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)-hosted a fireside chat at The Future of Health Conference titled ‘Leveraging Multiplayer Collaborations for Pandemic Preparedness in the Context of Climate Change in West Africa’, brought together leaders in public health to address a critical and complex issue: how climate change is transforming the landscape of infectious diseases, creating a new urgency for cross-sector collaboration.

 With climate shifts leading to rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, West Africa is experiencing heightened vulnerability to infectious diseases. Pathogens like those responsible for Lassa fever and Mpox are spreading beyond traditional seasonal patterns, now appearing more frequently and in regions that have previously been less affected. This new reality necessitates an integrated approach to pandemic preparedness, focusing on partnerships across sectors and levels of society to build climate resilience and safeguard health.

The fireside chat was moderated by Oyeronke Oyebanji, Head of Lassa Fever Engagement at CEPI, and featured two experts on the panel: Elsie Ilori, former Director of Surveillance at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and Dr. Julius S.M. Gilayeneh Sr., the Technical Director General and Chief Scientist at Liberia’s National Public Health Institute. Both panelists brought unique insights from their extensive experience in surveillance and public health, highlighting both the challenges and the innovative solutions necessary for effective pandemic preparedness in the face of climate change.

Oyeronke guided the conversation by emphasizing the urgency of coordinated efforts to protect global health against the compounded threats of climate change and pandemics. She framed the discussion around the significant role of multiplayer collaborations, highlighting how governments, research institutions, international organizations, and the private sector must work in synergy to bolster pandemic preparedness and resilience in Africa.

Throughout the session, Oyeronke stressed that effective pandemic preparedness requires more than just strong public health responses: it demands active involvement from communities and regional collaborations to accelerate vaccine development and implement effective disease response strategies. She underscored the ‘all hands on deck’ approach, stating that health, food security, and environmental resilience must be pursued in tandem.

Oyeronke reiterated that pandemic preparedness must be a part of climate resilience strategies, particularly as infectious diseases like Lassa fever shift from being seasonal to affecting regions throughout the year due to changing climate conditions. Her insights provided a clear call to action for multisectoral cooperation and emphasized the necessity of cross-sector efforts to enhance West Africa’s resilience to health crises amplified by climate change.

Elsie Ilori, drawing on her work in public health surveillance in Nigeria, underscored the growing need for robust surveillance systems and multisectoral partnerships, particularly with private-sector entities, to effectively manage and mitigate infectious disease outbreaks in this changing landscape. She pointed out that diseases like Lassa fever, once largely predictable in their seasonal appearances, have shifted due to climate change, now posing a risk throughout the year. This shift, Ilori explained, is largely due to altered weather patterns that affect the habitats and behavior of disease-carrying animals, like rodents for Lassa fever, which increases human exposure. Beyond Lassa fever, Ilori noted that climate change is driving the resurgence of diseases once thought to be under control, such as bacterial infections and pertussis, which are emerging as renewed threats. She emphasized that a core component of effective response lies in climate-adaptive healthcare policies and community-level interventions that can directly support those most affected. For her, the private sector’s involvement is critical: collaboration on this front can bring in essential resources, drive innovation, and improve response agility to curb the effects of climate on disease dynamics.

Dr. Julius S.M. Gilayeneh Sr. echoed Ilori’s call for multisectoral collaboration, expanding on the importance of a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health sectors. In Liberia, where disease dynamics are shifting alongside seasonal patterns, Gilayeneh emphasized the difficulty in obtaining comprehensive climate data. Nevertheless, his team is leveraging collaboration across sectors to gather as much relevant information as possible, which aids in predicting outbreaks and creating preemptive response strategies. Gilayeneh pointed out that without reliable climate data, it is challenging to definitively attribute shifts in disease patterns directly to climate change. However, Liberia’s public health authorities are taking proactive measures to bridge this data gap, actively involving local communities and working with organizations across health and environmental sectors. His insights reinforced the value of cross-disciplinary partnerships to accelerate vaccine development and ensure a unified, effective response to emerging health threats. Gilayeneh advocated for concrete actions that facilitate this multisectoral collaboration, emphasizing that no single sector should lead at the expense of others. Instead, health, food security, and environmental sectors must coordinate to establish robust, climate-resilient health systems.

As the discussion concluded, the panelists aligned on several recommendations to enhance Africa’s resilience to climate-driven health challenges. They advocated for scaling vaccine research and development, building a solid foundation for public health responses to future pandemics, and fostering a whole-of-society approach that brings together stakeholders from all relevant sectors. This approach would ensure that communities are not only prepared but empowered to face the growing health impacts of climate change. Gilayeneh highlighted the necessity of local engagement, emphasizing that grassroots involvement is essential for creating sustainable and effective public health strategies.

The relevance of this conversation to Shades of Us is profound, as we are deeply committed to advancing health and social equity for underserved populations. In regions like West Africa, where the brunt of climate change is disproportionately felt by communities already facing socio-economic challenges, the intersection of climate resilience and health equity is critical. For Shades of Us, the fireside chat’s insights affirm the importance of inclusive, community-driven health initiatives that address both immediate and long-term challenges. Infectious diseases that have become endemic due to climate change are not only health crises but also socio-economic issues, impacting livelihoods, food security, and the overall well-being of affected communities. Shades of Us can leverage the panelists’ insights to advocate for climate-adaptive healthcare policies, push for stronger surveillance systems, and emphasize the importance of localized interventions that support marginalized groups most impacted by these challenges.

Pictures from the CEPI-Hosted Fireside Chat at the 2024 Future of Health Conference 
which in Abuja on October 24, 2024