ACUFANAC 2019

Call for Papers

The 2019 Amaka Chiwuike-Uba Annual National Asthma Conference, which will be held on the 18th July 2019 at the Oakland Hotel and Amusement Park, Enugu, Nigeria.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Better Breathing, Better Living: The Role of the Environment and Governance”.

The conference theme was chosen in consideration and recognition of the impact of environment and governance on the quality of life of people. Pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone; contributing heavily to the burden of diseases from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.

Whereas people may have a greater ability to modify indoor environmental exposures, in most cases, they do not have direct control over outdoor pollutant concentrations. A clear example is the continuous and continuing gas flaring in Nigeria as well Nigeria's rating as one of the most polluted countries in the world. The control of both indoor and outdoor environment exposures, therefore, becomes the key ingredient and responsibility of government and outcome of governance (either good or bad).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution is responsible for more than 12million deaths per year. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets ---SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 6 (Clean water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable clean energy), SDG 13 (Climate action), SDG 14 (Life below water) and SDG 16 (Peace, Security and Strong Institutions) is dependent on the environment and governance outcomes. In a nutshell, governance is core to a sustainable environment and development.

The 2019 Conference is expected to identify the linkages between governance and environment and its impact on better breathing and better living in Nigeria. Specifically, the Conference will identify the challenges to access to healthcare and make recommendations on policies and strategies to improve environmental governance outcomes and facilitate access to healthcare (especially asthma and other non-communicable diseases diagnosis, treatment and control) in Nigeria. Finally, the governance innovations for effective implementation of SDGs 3, 6, 7, 13, 14 and 16 shall be recommended to improve the overall health and well-being of Nigerians. Health and happiness cannot be experienced individually, alone, but in a healthy and happy human society.

The conference theme will be reflected in discussions around six topics, which include Better Breathing, Better Living: The Role of the Environment and Governance in Nigeria; Nigeria’s Policy Challenges for Green Economy, Clean Environment and Quality Healthcare System; The Linkages between the Environment and Governance; Air pollution and the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria; The politics of gas flaring and oil and gas industry in Nigeria and its impact on air quality and human health; and Human Rights, Environment and Health Management in Nigeria.

The 2019 Conference will be chaired by Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu– former Minister for Health. At its core, the conference will feature keynote papers by Prof. Tunji Olaopa and Prof. Benjamin S.C. Uzochukwu. Other Key Speakers at the Conference are Dr. Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili– Former World Bank Vice President and Former Ministers for Education and Solid Minerals; Prof. Gregory Efosa Erhabor –a Consultant Pulmonologist/Chest Physician; Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba –former Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, OAU, Ile Ife; Dr Adaeze Ayuk - Consultant Pulmonologist; Henry Ademola Adigun – an Oil Governance Expert and Larry Oguego –National Coordinator of Human Rights Volunteer Corps. The conference will also feature high-level contributions and discussions by distinguished global leaders in various fields, complemented by young minds, those with asthma and other respiratory diseases and other participants who will be making contributions from their individual perspectives. We are also expecting special addresses from Special Guests of Honour, some State Governors and the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Annual National Asthma Conference draws over 1,000 participants from federal government agencies, the 36 state governments and FCT, the private sector, civil society, international development agencies, and the general public. The participants at the 2019 Conference are expected to chart the road-map for sustainable environment and governance systems that promote better breathing and living in Nigeria.