Impacts of Climatic Changes on Parasitic and Vector-Borne Diseases in Nigeria

The impacts of climatic changes may pose threats to public health. The breeding and lifestyle of disease vectors such as mosquitoes are highly sensitive to climatic conditions. Assessing vulnerability and adaptation strategies can reshape programmes for climate-sensitive infectious diseases. The objectives of this paper are to understand the likely impacts of climatic changes on the spread of parasitic infections and vector-borne diseases in Nigeria and propose strategies to combat the current and future health-related impacts of climate change. The analysis in this paper was carried out using secondary data derived from several sources, which include the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Federal Ministry of Health. Findings indicate that Nigeria’s average atmospheric temperature rose by 1.11 °C, surpassing the global average of 0.74 °C. Rainfall increased by 245.72 mm, with regional variations. Northern Nigeria saw substantial rainfall increases compared to the south. Rising temperatures significantly correlated with increased malaria cases. Increase in rainfall had no major impact on the prevalence of malaria, but inversely affected the prevalence of filariasis and diarrhoea cases. Temperature did not significantly affect the prevalence of filariasis. The study concludes that mitigating the health impacts of climate change in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted approach. Key recommendations include increasing climate action to reduce health-related risks, investing in research to develop alternative strategies for parasite control, enhancing public education and awareness, and improving the capacity of local communities to prevent the breeding of disease vectors. Policymakers and stakeholders must prioritise these actions to safeguard public health in the face of ongoing and future climatic changes.