The Stifling Burden of Climate Change on African Public Healthcare Systems

Jack Ogony^1,2*Judith Nekesa Mangeni³George Ayodo⁴Esther Amulen^5,6Florenc Scopas⁶Tusubila Juma⁶Michael Wagaba⁶Amos Deogratius Mwaka⁷Lena Nwanja⁸Sambila Princewill⁸Ben Oyugi⁴Arthy Yongo⁴Sitraka Rakotosolofo⁹Alberto Francioli¹⁰Eunison Mugamu¹⁰Julia Davies¹¹Corrie Hannah¹¹jack Ogony²

• ¹Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
• ²Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
• ³College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
• ⁴Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya
• ⁵Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
• ⁶Makerere University, Kampala, Central Region, Uganda
• ⁷Gulu University, Gulu, Northern Region, Uganda
• ⁸University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
• ⁹University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
• ¹⁰Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
• ¹¹University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States

Background: Climate change is the greatest health threat of the 21st century. Climate change is a threat to globalglobal health and primary health care. Despite being the least contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is disproportionately facefacings disproportionately severe impacts of climate change, particularly on its health systems which . Healthcare systems in Africa is already suffer from neglected and underfunded. The climate crisis poses a fundamental threat to human health by undermining healthcare infrastructure, straining workforce capacity, and diminishing global progress toward universal health coverage. It disrupts the physical environment, natural and human systems, and the functionality of healthcare systems, acting as a multiplier threat that jeopardizes and potentially reverses decades of health gains. The Sendai Framework, a roadmap for making vulnerable and marginalized communities safer and more resilient emphasizes the importance of investing in disaster risk prevention and reduction through both structural and non-structural measures, which are vital for enhancing socio-economic, health, and cultural resilience. This narrative review is based on the insights drawn from Climate Adaptation Research Program scholars across Africa. It explores the current and projected burden of climate change on the continent's healthcare systems. It underscores the urgent need to integrate climate resilience into healthcare planning, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, and ensures the sustainability of health systems amid escalating climate challenges.