Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Uganda has received commendation from the Rockefeller Foundation for being the first nation to create a comprehensive National Health Adaptation Plan, designed to address the impacts of climate change.
William Asiko, Africa Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation, highlighted Uganda’s accomplishment in an interview with this publication on Thursday, just ahead of the plan’s official launch.
Asiko noted that Uganda has set a significant precedent for global health management, referencing the country’s success in containing the Ebola outbreak within 90 days—a feat that many other nations have struggled to achieve with such a virulent disease.
This new five-year plan, essential for all countries that participated in the United Nations Global Climate Convention, outlines strategies for preventing and managing health emergencies exacerbated by climate change.
Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Health, explained that the National Health Adaptation Plan is comprehensive, addressing the need to strengthen the healthcare workforce to manage emerging and re-emerging diseases, catastrophic events like floods and landslides, and ensuring effective coordination between governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Uganda is now the second country globally to develop such a document. Asiko emphasized that, despite Africa’s minimal contribution to global emissions, the continent suffers disproportionately from the effects of climate change.
He believes Uganda’s leadership in creating this adaptation plan is a vital step forward in addressing these challenges.
Minister Without Portfolio, Rukia Nakadama, who presided over the launch, pointed to a recent emergency in Kampala where a large rubbish heap collapsed, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive coping strategies.
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Nakadama stressed the importance of integrating climate change awareness across all sectors and involving communities in both prevention and response efforts.
Dr. Atwine mentioned that the plan was developed after conducting a vulnerability assessment, ensuring that it addresses critical health areas such as mental health, psychosocial support, foodborne illnesses, and the risks of injury and mortality from extreme weather events.
Asiko added that these focus areas align with the Rockefeller Foundation’s long-standing interests in public health and food system resilience. He noted that the organization has recently updated its strategy to incorporate climate change initiatives into its broader mission.
