By Oluseye Ojo
The Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON) has listed the profound impact that functional Primary Health Centres (PHCs) could have on reducing national carbon emissions in Nigeria.
The detrimental effects of high carbon emissions on human health, including symptoms like headaches and drowsiness, were emphasised, along with more severe outcomes such as rapid breathing, confusion, elevated blood pressure, and cardiac issues.
During a press conference in Ibadan ahead of the World Family Doctor Day (WFDD) 2024 on May 19th under the theme, ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’, Dr. Okedare Olufemi, the chairman of SOFPON in Oyo State, emphasised the critical role of primary care in mitigating the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint.
Olufemi noting that the healthcare sector contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, accounting for 4.4 per cent of the total, stressing the importance of early disease detection and lifestyle changes that could be provided by primary care in reducing the need for resource-intensive medical interventions and subsequently cutting emissions.
To combat the environmental challenges, Olufemi suggested a shift towards clean energy sources like solar and wind power, while discouraging the use of fossil fuels and combustion engines. He also advocated sustainable practices, such as reducing non-biodegradable waste pollution, promoting reforestation, and adopting paperless initiatives.
“We need to utilise more of clean energy and make it affordable to the populace. Avoid the use of fossil fuels and combustion engines. Let us use more of solar and wind energy.
“We need to avoid non-biodegradable pollution of the environment, and encourage recycling of non-biodegradable waste like plastic bottles, and sachets of nylon. We need to avoid land degradation through reforestation and discouragement of deforestation. Let us plant trees in our environment. Let us go paperless,” he said.
The celebration of World Family Doctor Day included impactful activities such as tree planting, a medical outreach programme in Ajibode community in Ibadan, and a public lecture on ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’ delivered by Dr. Temitope Ilori, the Director General of the National Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA).