By Nevison Mpofu
Zimbabwe has launched a Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP), marking a significant step in confronting the growing public health threats linked to climate change, as experts warn the climate-health nexus is evolving into a global crisis.
The initiative, unveiled in Harare on April 16, reflects the government’s escalating response to climate-related health risks that are increasingly affecting vulnerable communities across the country and the wider Southern African region.
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are amplifying disease burdens, straining health systems, and deepening inequalities, officials and health experts said during the launch.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, underscored the urgency of coordinated national and global action, describing climate change as an immediate and escalating public health emergency.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a lived reality for Zimbabwe,” Mombeshora said. “This is not only an environmental issue—it is a public health emergency that demands decisive leadership, coordinated action, and sustained commitment.”
He pointed to the increasing frequency of cyclones, droughts, and floods across Southern Africa—including in Mozambique, Malawi, and South Africa—which have destroyed infrastructure, displaced communities, and heightened exposure to disease outbreaks.
Health experts at the event highlighted a surge in communicable diseases linked to climate variability. Water-borne illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, and typhoid are rising due to contaminated water and poor sanitation, particularly following floods and droughts. At the same time, vector-borne diseases like malaria are expanding as warmer temperatures create more favorable conditions for transmission.
Beyond infectious diseases, climate change is also intensifying non-communicable health conditions. Air, water, and land pollution—exacerbated by environmental degradation—are contributing to cardiovascular illnesses, including hypertension, heart disease, and related complications.
Women and children remain among the most vulnerable. Globally, an estimated 4 to 5 million women are displaced annually due to climate-related factors. In Zimbabwe and similar contexts, pregnant women face increased risks of dehydration, kidney complications, low birth weight, and pre-term births linked to extreme heat and food insecurity.
Lovemore Dobha, representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, said climate change is worsening malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly in impoverished communities.
Conditions such as kwashiorkor, marasmus, rickets, and eclampsia are becoming more prevalent, driven by prolonged droughts, declining agricultural productivity, and limited access to clean water, he said.
“Increasing water scarcity, food shortages, and extreme weather are directly contributing to hunger, famine, and disease at both household and regional levels,” Dobha noted.
He emphasized that while Zimbabwe has made progress through national climate policies, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and adaptation strategies, more needs to be done to mobilize resources and strengthen resilience.
“We must move beyond policy frameworks and accelerate implementation, resource mobilization, and climate resilience efforts,” he said.
Dr. Fortunate Machingura, Director for Climate, Environment and Health at the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research (CeSHHAR), said Africa continues to bear a disproportionate burden of climate-related health impacts despite contributing minimally to global emissions.
“Africa contributes roughly 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remains among the hardest hit,” Machingura said. “Between 2001 and 2021, nearly 60% of public health events on the continent were linked to climate-related factors.”
She added that climate change is no longer a future concern but a present-day driver of health crises across the continent.
Supporting this view, Dr. Jeremiah Mushosho, Climate and Health Lead for the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region, said data shows worsening health outcomes tied directly to climate trends.
“Temperatures in Zimbabwe have been rising, while rainfall is becoming increasingly erratic,” Mushosho said. “Extreme heat is emerging as a major and under-recognized health risk, placing Zimbabwe among the most vulnerable countries.”
He stressed that integrating climate considerations into health planning is now essential for building resilient health systems.
Zimbabwe’s H-NAP is expected to guide national efforts to integrate climate and health policies, strengthen early warning systems, and protect at-risk populations, aligning with broader global calls to prioritize health within climate action frameworks.
As climate shocks intensify, policymakers and experts agree that bridging the gap between environmental policy and public health systems will be critical to safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
