Over 7 Million People Die Annually Over Respiratory Diseases From Climate Change — Rep. Onuigbo

Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Honourable Sam Onuigbo has said that no fewer than seven million people die globally on annual basis as a result of respiratory diseases linked to climate change.

According to Hon. Onuigbo who is the sponsor of the Climate Change Bill now an Act and the President of Global Legislators’ Organization for Balanced Environment, GLOBE, Nigeria, an international association for national parliamentarians with over 100 countries, there is need to work together to stop the death of pregnant women and children from climate change impact.

In an interview recently, the lawmaker said the sooth challenge in Port Harcourt has remained a source of worry which much be tackled to save the people from health related issues.

He said, “For us in Nigeria, you saw or must have read what is going on in Port Harcourt if you are looking for example to touch. How it’s affecting the young people and all that. When you have a serious challenge with respiratory challenge, for those pregnant women and all that, the reports that some of us have read, indicates that it affects even the child.

“It affects the brain and affects development. So, the challenge is huge and what is causing is so much, health wise and that is why it is important that we all get together and solve this.

“From the angle of being a legislator, one of the reasons why I pushed so hard to ensure that this bill was put together and passed was that when I attended the Global Legislators’ Organization for Balance Environment (GLOBE) event during COP21 in Paris when Paris agreement on climate change was passed, we were encouraged by our leaders to push for a legislation because that is the only way for a government to come up will actions, points based on law to be able to check the devastating effects of climate change. So, these factors put together influenced me in pushing for this bill with the persistence that we did.”

He further noted that farmers and farming activities have been seriously affected by climate change due to change in pattern of rain which according to him has caused farmers losses.

The Climate Change advocate said farmers usually plant after the first rain with wrong assumptions that it will rain subsequently, leading to loss.

“Two, as farmer, I have also found out that the raining season has changed. The pattern has changed in a way that is affecting local farmers, affecting when they plant.

“Sometimes, maybe, you have the first rain after clearing the bush and then you go and plant thinking it will rain the way it used to rain, because you have the first rain, the second rain and then it continues like that until sometime in July when it is heavy but it is no more like that; some people suffer losses.”

He therefore expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the climate change bill which provides the legal framework to tackle the challenge.