In a major step toward addressing the escalating health risks posed by climate change, the UK’s Medical Research Foundation has announced an investment of over £1.5 million into six collaborative projects focused on Africa. The projects will see British scientists working with colleagues from Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, and Nigeria to study the health effects of environmental changes, with a focus on providing evidence-based solutions to manage these impacts both in Africa and the UK.

Climate change is predicted to cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050, according to the foundation. These new studies aim to combat these rising risks by fostering international partnerships that explore diverse health challenges linked to climate shifts.

One such project, led by Dr. Symon Kariuki from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Dr. Claire Niedzwiedz from the University of Glasgow, will focus on the mental health impacts of climate change in rural Kenya. The team plans to develop culturally relevant methods for measuring eco-anxiety and offer targeted interventions to alleviate psychological stress caused by environmental changes.

In another project, Dr Samuel Adjorlolo of the University of Ghana and Dr Amanda Mason-Jones from the University of York will examine how flooding affects maternal health in coastal cities such as Accra, Ghana, and Kingston upon Hull, UK. Their goal is to devise strategies that protect pregnant women from the health risks associated with extreme weather events.

Two other studies will investigate mosquito-borne diseases under changing environmental conditions. In Kenya, Dr Shehu Shagari Awandu from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University and Dr Emilie Pondeville from the University of Glasgow will examine how climate change influences the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue by two mosquito species. Similarly, Dr Sulaiman Ibrahim from Cameroon’s Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases and Dr Ilaria Dorigatti from Imperial College London will conduct research in Nigeria to predict how climate change will affect the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses.

Further addressing climate-related health risks, Dr Benedict Weobong from the University of Ghana and Dr Seyi Soremekun from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will study the mental health effects of climate change on women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Their work seeks to fill evidence gaps and enhance mental health services across the region.

In Nigeria, another research team led by Dr Muzamil Olamide Hassan from Obafemi Awolowo University and Dr Raina Ramnath from the University of Bristol will explore the impact of high temperatures on kidney function in agricultural workers. Their study will investigate the links between heat stress, dehydration, and acute kidney injury.

These projects highlight the urgent need for global collaboration in addressing the health impacts of climate change. The research is expected to generate crucial data that will inform public health strategies and strengthen climate resilience across Africa, contributing to both regional and global health security.

 

Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku

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https://www.medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk/news/understanding-the-health-impacts-of-climate-change