The 5th International Forum on the Management of Public Health Emergencies opened in Yaoundé under a highly topical theme: “Public Health Emergencies and Climate Change in Africa: Challenges and Prospects.” This high-level event, organized by the Ministry of Public Health, is taking place at the Hilton Hotel from July 30 to August 1, 2025, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers to discuss the intersection of health and environmental issues.
The inaugural lecture was delivered by Professor Joseph Armathé Amougou, Director General of the National Observatory on Climate Change (NOCC). In his keynote address, he painted a concerning picture: prolonged droughts, floods, heat waves, and the spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases are all tangible manifestations of climate change on the continent. “Climate has a direct impact on our well-being. Every extreme variation eventually translates into a public health effect,” he stressed, emphasizing that public health remains on the front line of environmental disruptions.
Beyond this assessment, the forum aims to be a laboratory for solutions. Experts from NOCC and their African counterparts are sharing experiences and strategies to strengthen the resilience of health systems. Discussions focus on epidemiological surveillance, disaster preparedness, and community awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas that are often the first to suffer from climate hazards. 
By combining scientific data with on-the-ground realities, participants aim to develop a pragmatic roadmap to anticipate future health crises. Africa, exposed to multiple climate threats, must adopt public policies that fully integrate environmental risks. The Yaoundé forum thus serves as a collective call to action, where addressing the impacts of climate change is inseparable from protecting public health.
Bleck Yacoubu Nsangou
