Women, communities take lead in Africa’s climate-health solutions

Women, communities take lead in Africa’s climate-health solutions

 

By Abbas Nazil

As the climate crisis intensifies and poses growing health risks across Africa, public health experts, development partners, and private sector leaders are preparing to convene at the Africa Health Business Symposium 2025 (AHBS25) for urgent dialogue on sustainable, inclusive responses.

Scheduled for July 17, the high-level event will feature a pivotal session titled “Addressing the Effects of Climate Change on Health,” forming a core part of the broader symposium theme, “Leveraging Innovation to Advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa.”

Organisers say the session will spotlight the critical link between climate change and health, focusing on how innovation and partnerships can protect vulnerable populations, particularly women and local communities, from climate-induced health threats.

Dr. Amina Dorayi, Senior Country Director at Pathfinder International, emphasized the session’s goal of fostering actionable strategies that mitigate and minimize the health consequences of climate change across the continent.

Dorayi noted that the session would go beyond identifying problems, aiming instead to promote evidence-based interventions and catalyse action-oriented partnerships to develop climate-resilient health systems.

Pathfinder International, a key player in the session, will draw on its expertise in gender-responsive and community-led approaches to showcase effective local solutions.

Among the session’s key highlights will be the presentation of women-led innovations from some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, with over 95 percent exposure to environmental risks.

A new systems innovation platform will also be unveiled, designed to scale up community-driven interventions and foster integrated strategies that address health, climate, and economic challenges simultaneously.

Dr. Dorayi stressed the importance of placing women and communities at the center of the continent’s climate-health strategies, noting that they are not merely victims of the climate crisis but active architects of sustainable solutions.

She highlighted that integrating women’s voices and grassroots innovations into formal policy frameworks could lead to more resilient and equitable outcomes.

The session will also feature contributions from Dr. Oumar Onyango, Pathfinder’s Senior Advisor for Research and Strategic Communications – Africa.

He will underscore the importance of storytelling, African-led innovation, and strategic partnerships in driving long-term change and influencing health policy.

Onyango is expected to discuss how data-driven and community-informed approaches can guide more responsive and enduring solutions to climate-health challenges.

AHBS25 is recognized as a premier forum for African health leaders, policymakers, innovators, and researchers.

This year’s symposium is expected to generate practical recommendations that will inform policy, bolster health systems, and deliver lasting improvements to the continent’s most climate-affected populations.