Conference Title: AFRIHEALTH Network's Conference on ‘Civil Society
and Community Engagements with COP26: Roles, Challenges and Expectations
Date: 10/29/2021
Time: 04:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Secretary: Aina'u
Musa Sarai
Moderator Prof. Hayaat
Gommaa
Introduction/Background
Afrihealth Optonet Association is a community-focused civil society
organization [CSOs] network/think-tank of more than 1000 members/partners with
interests in the promotion of Health as a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being, and achievement/realization of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), especially in the global South. AFRIHEALTH Network
and its members are involved in Health [Universal Health Coverage, HIV/AIDS,
TB, FP/RH and Malaria - prevention, treatment, impact mitigation, care and
support]; Vaccinations/Immunizations; Preventing/Controlling poverty-related
Diseases; Nutrition and Food Security; Energy and Environment; and Empowerment,
Gender/women empowerment, Good Governance and Human Rights. Incorporated in
Nigeria as a not-for-profit, non-religious and non-partisan registered trustees
in 2003, AFRIHEALTH uses Partnerships/Collaborations (PPP); Advocacy and
Mobilizations; Research/Evidence-Generation (reviews, assessment, oversight,
conferences, symposiums, seminars); Capacity Development/Training and
Organizational Strengthening; Outreaches/Community Interventions; and
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) - called PARCOM Strategy to achieve its
objectives; while focusing on rural and poor urban communities, marginalized,
vulnerable and disadvantaged populations especially women, children,
adolescents and elderly; and exploring the nexus/interlinkages between Health,
Energy and Environment – including renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy
conservation, climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems; Nutrition and Food
Security, and Gender, Good Governance/Democracy and Human Rights. Its target
beneficiaries include the poorest of the poor, children/infants and orphans,
women, youth/adolescents, vulnerable population/groups and the elderly in rural
and urban/suburban communities. Afri-health Optonet Association has a
Consultative Status at the United Nations ECOSOC.
The primary objective of the conference was to bring together Civil
Society and Community Engagements with COP26 Processes, Roles, Decisions and
Actions.
Presentation Summary Dr
Uzodinma Aderieje chaired the conference. The agenda and attendance are
enclosed.
The CEO Afrihealth, in his speech reminds all present of the most
important Climate conference taking place in Glasgow Scotland from 30th to 31st
of October 2021, where world leaders and stakeholders are expected to present
plans to cut emissions.
The goals of the event are:
• Eliminating the
world COP power plant.
• Replacing
gasoline vehicles with electric models
• Reaching
agreement for wealthy nations to provide $100, 000, 000, 000. support annually
in finance and support climate transition in developing nations.
The Importance of COP26 will never be overemphasized as mass
wildfire, unprecedented flooding, famine and record shattering heat in
different parts of the world was witnessed in recent years.
The CEO call on all and sundry to look into issues below to provide
collective answers from different perspectives especially how they affect us as
an individuals, people in civil
society's, people in private sector and our communities.
Issues of concerns.
HOW DO WE:
• create a global
carbon market—in which a country or business could pay for projects that reduce
emissions elsewhere and then count those reductions in their own targets (often
known as “offsetting”); so called Finalize the Paris rulebook of Article 6 of UNFCCC
Scaling up climate finance
• Develop more
robust resilience plans
• Commit to putting
an end to coal
• Halt
deforestation and improve protections for ecosystems
• Expand electric
vehicle adoption
• Improve
collaboration between the public and private sectors
• Dramatically
increase investments in renewable energy, among others
Participants Recommendations.
1. Prepare position papers to have one voice
2. CSOs to look into areas of carbon credit, foods prints and scale
up climate finances
3. Halt commercial charcoal trades by International bodies.
4. Enlightenment campaigns and sensitization on dangers of
deforestation
5. Empowerment as a solution to changing wrong mindset in areas that
goes against our environment especially in developing world.
6. Moving out of the board rooms to the actual work on ground.
7. Putting pressures on the government to enforce laws that will
protect our animals and wild animals.
8. Increase investment in renewable energy
9. Cooperation between public and private sectors on renewable
energy.
10. Adding Deforestation in our curriculum.
11. Substitute wood and kerosene
with clean cook stove.
12. Community sensitisation on Climate change
13. Advocacy to the Ministry of education on climate education into
the schools curriculum
14. The need to engage wind, hydro, solar energy as alternative
sources
15. Sustained awareness raising at the grassroot level.
16. Behavioural Communication Change programmes at the lowest
academic level, catching them young.
17. Work closely with the key players who are actually the biggest
polluters.
18. Intensify effort on project plant a tree
19. The restoration of Wetlands and forests with indigenous tree
species
20. Advocacy visits to policy makers to get their buy- in and
support
21. The policy makers and law enforcement agents to be carried along
22. Initiate recycling projects at community level which
lead the ways to help lessen landfill
waste, conserve natural resources, save habitats, reduce pollution, cut down on
energy consumption.
23. Bring deliberate action we to the table that that will strike a
balance between Climate action and community livelihoods
24. Community engagement by structuring of Health and Environment
Committees.
25. The need for sustainability
plan to conserve resources.
26. The need to address the issues of migration and shelters for the
homeless
Challenges
•
• Lack of political
will
• Poverty
• Unemployment
• Climate finances
• Illiteracy etc
Conclusions
Afrihealth CSOs COP26 conference focuses on the looming dangers
associated with climate change such as
deforestation, climate finances, greenhouse emissions, renewable energy
unemployment etc and proffer solutions to addressing them.
The conference came to an end with closing remarks from the
Secretary Joint TAGs and PAPs Afrihealth Optonent Association.
Participants:
1. Dr Uzodinma Adirieje, Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Afrihealth
Optonent Association [CSOs Network]
2. Prof Hayaat Gommaa; Focal Person, Family Welfare, Afrihealth
Optonet Association [CSOs Network]
3. Aina'u Musa Sarai, Secretary Joint TAGs Forum, Afrihealth
Optonet Association [CSOs Network]
4. James Lott, Future Enactment Initiative Liberia.
5. Catherine Kariuku, Kenya
6. Suzanne BILO'O, POWER Cameroon
7. Catherine Etondè, Prèsidente Action-Santè Education, Douala
Cameroon
8. Jack Park, TopicQuests Foundation, Southern California USA
9. Anima Sharma, India
10. Zainab Suleiman Muhammad, Youth and Environmental Development
Association [YEDA]
11. Ijeoma O. Nweke, Nigeria
12. Akhigbe Amarachukwu Miriam, Help Me To Succeed Foundation Edo
State Nigeria.
13. Janet Schempt, Soroptimist Int'l Alaska
14. Bettina Hausmann, San Diego California
15. Olga Djanaeva, Women's Association Alga Kyrgyzstan
16. Comfort Quarshie, Eden Spring of Hope Ghana
17. Mossima Nijie Eddie Frank,
Cameroon
18. Sarbyen Sheni, Education As A Vaccine Nigeria
19. Hussein Kalolo Mwale, Director Save The Community Foundation
Malawi
20. Prof. Josephine Alumanah, Caritas University Enugu, Action In
Distress [AID] Foundation Nigeria
21. Dr Charles Ukauwa, Public Enlightenment Project Nigeria
22. Monica Mesame, Director Our Health Foundation Cameroon.
23. Haspeck Thanga, Malawi
24. Ogochukwu Okoli, Organization For Social Programmes and
Healthcare Nigeria
26. Ayi Okelana, Cleannation Foundation Nigeria
27. Amarachi Brendan-Otuojor, Development Impact Pathfinders
Initiative Nigeria
28. Angel Boris Ngono, POWER
Cameroon
29. Nicolas Meylan, Remote Human Help , Universal Basic Telehealth
30. Marsh Kumar Shresta, Kathmandu Nepal
31. Friday Okpanachi Ekpa, Justice For Rural Women and Young People
Initiative Nigeria.
32. Mariam, Tchad
33. Augustine Illimoe, Edo State Nigeria
34. Aimiè Yedenou, Benin
35. Orji Hannah Ezinne, Lagos Nigeria
36. Marion Becker, Germany
37. Temple Bright, Citizens Rights Development Center, Rivers State
Nigeria
38. Columbia Tine, Senegal
39. Djibrine Bichara, Young African Leaders Initiative CHAD
40. Adun Birsan, Education As A Vaccine Nigeria
41. Mustafa Girema, Uganda
42. Carolina Muturi, IBON International Africa, Nairobi Kenya
43. Dr Alexander, African
Cleanup Initiative Nigeria
44. Desmond A. Ntini, Humanitarian Livelihoods Development Trust
Zimbabwe
45. Poscovier Vikman, Environmental and Bulugibwansi Board Uganda
46. Uket Bassey
47. Yoila Samari Raymond, Tansana Health and Community Integrated
Development Initiative Nigeria
48. Josephine Obinyan, Global Affairs Canada
49. Mopelola Akeji, Evergreen Consumer Advocacy and Safety
Initiative Nigeria
50. Dr Mark Ofua, Nigeria
51. Prof Beckie Tagbo, Director Institute of Molecular Medicine and
Infectious Diseases University of Nigeria.
52. Alimony Lembo, Togo
53. Imane BELGHITI, Casablanca Morocco.
54. Stella Nabbumba, Climate Change Advisor, Environmental Activist, Coordinator Mpigi
District Farmers Association, Uganda
55. Willy BAWILI CHANDJA, SOCCODERA RDCongo
56. Uzoamaka Uja, ISIAH 58 Care Foundation Nigeria
57. Lanssina TO, Association in l'enfant un Cartable
58. Haspeck Thanga
59. Lucy Dlama Yunana, North East Nigeria
60. Catherine Etondè, TAG member
61. Dr Ibama Asiton-a, TAG member
62. Mrs Toritseju Okanlawon, Vice President Women in Renewable
Energy Association Nigeria
63. Houssoube Kakine ONG Zonal CHAD
64. Bella Akhagba, Founder/CEO Bella Foundation For Child And
Maternal Care Lagos Nigeria
65. Mossima Nije Frank, ING Local Development and Project Management
66. Michael Kakule Vustapu, CEO Academia Group DRC
67. Rose Kimuyi, The Safe Center Nairobi Kenya.
68. Mercy Barka, Nigeria
69. Hannah Ezinne Orji, Youth Social Media Activist Affiliating with
Education As A Vaccine
70. Mopelola Akeju, Nigeria
71. The MBA Chiveya, Centre For Democracy and Peace Advocacy [CDPA]
Bulawayo Zimbabwe
72. Leon Ngalamulume Mulamba, National dela Solidaritè Juvenile Pour
la Cotoyennetè et le Bien-ètre [SOJUCIB] ONGD RD Congo
73. Lucy Dlama Yunana, Women in The New Nigeria and Youth
Empowerment Initiative Borno State Nigeria
74. Paul Kathenge, Rockville Centre For Sustainable Development Kenya.
75. Idowu Adewale O. Center For Sustainable Development University
of Nigeria
76. Adewoyin Adelowo, Greenfaith Organization and Global Youth
Biodiversity Network
77. Mariam Okikola, Lagos Nigeria
78. Josephine Obinyan
79. Mariam Adoum
80. Faith Kiema, Kitui Women in Development [KWID] Kenya
81. Faith Mvududu, Lily Blossom Academy Zimbabwe
82. Samuel Adunreke, Executive President Innovea Development
Foundation
83. Maria Cristina Weyland Viera, Brazilian Conservative Private
Nature Reserve
84. Tahira Ali, Pakistan
85. Diallo Yahya Sadio, President AMDS Mauritania
86. Dr Mark Ofua, WildAid Nigeria
87. Dr Gideon Baah Jnr, Ghana Health Service Ghana
88. Nabia Mborou Herbert, Centrafrique
89. Enyinnaya Okoro, Abia State Polytechnic Aba Nigeria
90. Dr Godwin ASIBOR, Federal University Of Petroleum Resources
Effurun, Delta State Nigeria
91. Isaac Olofi, Justice,
Development and Commission Ijebu-Ode
92. Ehindero Alaba, Centre For Suppor Of Women In Unpaid And
Informal Employment In Nigeria [WIIEN]
93. Iboro Adam-Etuk, Willing And Caring Hands Foundation [WICAF]
94. Jacy Kaliti, Ministry of
Health Kenya, Environmental Expert.
