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| Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, at the 2024 Future of Health Conference |
by Ramatu Ada Ochekliye
Every year, I look forward to the Future of Health Conference hosted by the Nigeria Health Watch. I have come to associate the Nigeria Health Watch with excellence as they communicate ideals that promote the health and well-being of Nigerians and dare I say, Africans as a whole.
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| Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director, Strategy, Technical and Growth at SFH |
By Precious Olayinka
At the 2024 Future of Health Conference which was held on October 24, 2024, the Society for Family Health (SFH) hosted a panel session on climate resilience and adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Nigeria. Experts in climate change and reproductive health came together to discuss innovative approaches, address barriers, and explore collaborative opportunities to ensure climate action. These experts include Jane Ogugua, Deputy Project Director for A360 Nigeria Project; Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director, Strategy, Technical and Growth at SFH; Ramatu Iyimoga, Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement Lead for Adolescent 360); Aisha Farida Aminu, Co-founder of Thinkgreen and Abubakar Shuaibu, Founder and CEO of Green Energy Mission Africa.
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| The Fireside Chat at the 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference |
Nigeria Health Watch hosted a fireside chat at the 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference which focused on developing holistic climate-resilient solutions. The Fireside Chat was an intimate and engaging session designed to facilitate a deep and meaningful conversation on the critical intersections of climate change and health in Nigeria. It featured panelists who shared their thoughts on the need for infrastructure resilience, human resource preparedness, and the integration of climate and health policies. The discussion also highlighted the importance of youth engagement, mental health considerations, and the role of organic farming and urban gardening in climate adaptation. At the end of the session, the panelists provided actionable steps for young people to get involved, such as becoming climate evangelists, leveraging digital solutions, and seeking funding opportunities.
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| Cross-section of participants at the 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference Hosted by the Nigeria Health Watch |
By Aborah Love
As climate change continues to impact our world, the need for resilient communities has never been more pressing. One critical aspect of this resilience is the intersection of climate change and public health, particularly concerning the spread of infectious diseases. Engaging youth in proactive measures to build climate-resilient communities offers a unique opportunity to harness their energy, creativity, and passion for change.
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Conversation with a Policymaker at the 2024 Future of Health Conference
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Highlights from the Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference 2024
By Cynthia Umeh
The 2024 Future of Health Youth Pre-Conference was a milestone event held under the theme, Amplifying Youth Voices for Climate-Health Action. With climate change increasingly affecting human health, young leaders across Africa are stepping up as key advocates for meaningful change. In Nigeria, where environmental challenges are intertwined with health concerns, the youth have a crucial role in driving initiatives that link climate action with health.
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| Addressing Climate Impact on Nutrition and Food Security Panel Session at the 2024 Future of Health Conference in Abuja |
By Atinuke Adeosun
Climate change, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions, is causing severe shifts in weather patterns, which in turn are impacting health and food security worldwide.
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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.
By Ruth Ajawu
Shades of Us attended the 9th edition of the Future of Health Conference on October 12, 2023.
The Future of Health Conference is a yearly gathering hosted by Nigeria Health Watch, and this year's theme was a game-changer. Nigeria Health Watch has come a long way since its first health conference in 2015, where the discussion centred on Universal Health Coverage. Over the years, they have delved into diverse topics, from ‘Health Meets Tech’ in 2016, to ‘The Business of Health’ in 2017, the ‘Diaspora as Nigeria's Brain Gain’ in 2018, ‘Quality in Healthcare’ in 2019, ‘Innovations in Health’ in 2020, ‘The Political Economy of Health’ in 2022 in anticipation of the 2023 elections. This year, the spotlight was on ‘The Private Sector as a Catalyst for a Resilient Health System’.
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| Group photo after the second-panel session at the Future of Health Conference in Abuja. Image Credit: Nigeria Health Watch |
by Adetayo Adetokun
The Future of Health Conference is an annual conference hosted by Nigeria Health Watch. The conference aims to provide a visible platform for critical stakeholders in healthcare, finance, politics, and other allied sectors to discuss the factors that influence Nigeria’s health policies; how political, social, and economic factors shape individual and population health outcomes; health service development within the economic and political context; and how to create a national health service that meets the needs of all Nigerians.