By Mariama Jallow
The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG) at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the LSHTM Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, in collaboration with The Gambian Government will, from the 22 to 24 January 2020, hold a conference on Planetary Health at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
The conference, to be held for the first time in The Gambia, is expected to bring together researchers from different backgrounds and the research will focus on subjects including designing sustainable and healthy cities, controlling shifting patterns of infectious disease, and delivering sustainable and healthy food systems under environmental change.
This was revealed to journalists on Wednesday, 15 January during a media briefing at the MRC Unit in Fajara. The conference aims to showcase and stimulate existing and new planetary health research conducted in West Africa with a focus on local and early career researchers.
Speaking at the Media briefing, Prof. Martin Antonio, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Global health at MRCG, said the conference is being funded by MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM in partnership with the Government of The Gambia and The Centre for Climate Change & Planetary Health, the Western African science Service Centre on Climate change, UNDP, University of The Gambia, among other partners.
He disclosed that the theme is, ‘Climate change and planetary health in West Africa: reviewing evidence, identifying gaps, finding solutions.’
“Key topics include food security, infectious diseases, sustainable cities, direct heat impacts, and air pollution Will be discuss, ” he added.
Also speaking, Prof. Alan Dangour, professor of Food and Nutrition for Global health, said the conference will: facilitate a review of current research on planetary health in West Africa and the Sahel, Enable networking and communication amongst researchers and key stakeholders, Define research themes of relevance for the sub-region and Facilitate mentorship and training of young scientists on planetary health in West Africa.
Prof. Dangour told the press that, the Conference primarily focuses on the impact of projected environmental change on health and human wellbeing in West Africa.
The conference will bring together global, regional and national scientific leaders in the climate change field, as well as policy makers.
Professor Sidat Yaffa of the University of The Gambia, also highlighted more on the challenges of climate change in Africa, saying people lack capacity building on Climate change; few people involved in climate change research; and limited knowledge about climate change, among other things.
Prof. Yaffa hoped the forum would help to identify solution that is needed to tackle climate change in West Africa, as climate change is becoming a major problem in Africa.
The event will be co-hosted by Professor Alan Dangour and Professor Martin Antonio.
