Ministry of Health, Africa CDC Host Capacity Building Workshop on Climate Change and Health
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has launched a national capacity building workshop focused on the intersection of climate change and public health.
Officiating the event, Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, said the Ministry is undertaking a critical effort to strengthen Zambia’s preparedness and collective response to climate-induced health threats.
“Climate change is no longer a distant crisis—it’s a growing emergency affecting lives, widening health disparities, and threatening healthcare systems,” said Dr. Lishimpi. “Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse emissions but suffers the most from their consequences.”
Dr. Lishimpi noted the increasing frequency and intensity of outbreaks such as HIV, Ebola, COVID-19, Mpox, and cholera, which are being exacerbated by climate-related factors.
He emphasized that despite the challenges, there are opportunities for the continent to enhance resilience through strategic partnerships, informed leadership, and strong governance.
Africa CDC Regional Director Dr. Lul Riek described the workshop as a pivotal step toward a resilient and health-secure Africa. He stressed that future pandemic preparedness must integrate climate change into health strategies.
“This is not just about training—it’s a call to action to rethink how we build and safeguard public health,” Dr. Riek said.
Also speaking at the event, European Union Health Programme Manager Marta Palmarola, representing EU Ambassador to Zambia Karolina Stasiak, stated that climate change is now a present-day reality impacting human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
She praised the workshop as a crucial move toward building the necessary capacity to respond effectively to health-related climate challenges.
