Climate Change is a health crisis: We must act now

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OPINION

By Bernard Jackson Zikanga

Climate-induced disasters make our morning and evening news almost every day. The recent landslides in the Sebei Sub-region, affecting Bukwo, Kween, and Kapchorwa Districts, are just one of many tragedies Uganda has faced in recent months. Families lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in a matter of hours. Beyond the immediate devastation, survivors now face serious health risks: unsafe water, inadequate shelter, food shortages, and limited access to essential needs and services.

Across the country, droughts, floods, and unpredictable rainfall are far too common. They are a constant threat to the health and wellbeing of millions of Ugandans. In the wake of these occurrences, rates of malaria, cholera, malnutrition, and climate-related mental health challenges are rising, according to the Ministry of Health. The World Health Organisation also highlights that nearly half of Uganda’s health facilities are located in areas vulnerable to flooding or drought, and more than 70% experience service disruptions during climate disasters.

These are our realities, and they highlight an urgent truth: Uganda’s health system must adapt quickly to a changing climate if we are to protect lives and prevent the situation from escalating. Uganda has developed strong frameworks, such as the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP 2025–2030) and the forthcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0, which outline important strategies for service delivery, infrastructure, surveillance, and health workforce preparedness. Yet implementation remains slow, challenged by funding gaps, weak coordination, and limited capacity.

Integrating climate adaptation into health policy is not just a technical task, it is about making sure government systems work together to protect people.  For Uganda, this means aligning national health priorities with global climate commitments and ensuring ministries, local governments, and partners such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and WHO can work together. When coordination is strong, it means hospitals stay open during floods, medicines reach communities in hard-to-reach areas, and early warnings are shared before outbreaks spread or a disaster happens.

This commitment is already visible in many ways. For instance, the Ministry of Health team attended COP30 in Brazil recently, and they participated in a roundtable workshop discussing how to embed health and health workers into NDCs and HNAPs. Furthermore, they discussed how to translate these plans into coordinated, well-financed, and accountable action.

Speaking at the COP30 side event co-hosted by the Ministry of Health Uganda and Seed Global Health, Dr Didacus Namanya, Climate Change and Health Focal Point at the Ministry of Health, said: “We must listen to the voices of frontline health workers and learn from their lived realities. Health workers should never again be an afterthought in climate negotiations”.

Building the capacity of the health workforce is a key climate adaptation measure. Health professionals must have the skills and resources to anticipate, prevent, and respond to climate-driven diseases

Funding is another key area. The World Bank recommends climate-sensitive budgeting and clear budget lines for adaptation, ensuring predictable and sustained funding. Relying on ad-hoc or project-based funding creates uncertainty and hinders progress – external donors must align financing behind our national strategies for longer-term resilience. We also need stronger domestic financing to enhance accountability and support broader health reforms, helping the system withstand shocks.

Uganda’s strong District Health Information System (DHIS2) platform presents a powerful opportunity. By linking climate and health indicators, the system can further strengthen early warning and rapid response to climate-related health threats. Pilot initiatives such as the DHIS2 Climate App show that combining environmental and health data improves district-level planning. To expand this work nationally, Uganda will need standardised indicators, multisectoral data sharing, and continuous technical capacity development. Reliable monitoring, reporting, and verification systems will also ensure we meet international climate reporting obligations.

The lives and livelihoods of Ugandans are at stake, and we do not need more devastation to understand the urgency. Without timely action, climate shocks will continue to disrupt health services, undermine progress in maternal and child health, and deepen inequalities for vulnerable communities. But the opposite is also true: integrating climate adaptation into our health system can save lives and strengthen resilience across the country.

We have the tools, the expertise, and the institutional foundations needed to protect citizens from climate-related health risks. What is required now is a stronger leadership commitment, intentional cross-sector collaboration, and effective, results-driven implementation.

The writer is Policy Adviser Seed Global Health Uganda