A sick child does not become sick the moment they arrive at a hospital. In many cases, the real cause of illness begins much earlier — in the air they breathe, the water they drink, the food they consume, and the environment they live in.
Unsafe water, polluted air, poor sanitation, and the growing impact of climate change are increasingly becoming major drivers of public health challenges across the world, especially in vulnerable communities.
During a conference at the Western University Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, award-winning Cameroon scholar on global climate and environment, Richard Munang, raised a critical question about Africa’s future: why do we wait for people to become sick before we take action?
The reality is alarming. More than 60 percent of infectious diseases are linked to animals, while a significant number of emerging diseases originate from damaged ecosystems. Climate-related events are also worsening health challenges, with extreme heat, food insecurity, and environmental destruction affecting millions of people.
The pattern is clear: when nature suffers, human health pays the price.
Dr. Munang recalled a lesson from his grandmother: “You do not fix a leaking roof when the rain is already inside.” This simple wisdom reflects a deeper understanding of prevention. Society often reacts to health emergencies after they occur instead of addressing the conditions that create them.
Africa does not lack information. Research, reports, and scientific evidence already exist. The bigger challenge is turning knowledge into practical action.
This is where the Public Policy to Practice Ladder becomes important. It provides a pathway for moving from awareness to solutions:
First, communities must diagnose problems by identifying root causes rather than only treating symptoms.
Second, solutions must be co-designed with the people affected because local communities understand their challenges best.
Third, governments and institutions must provide resources that create long-term impact instead of relying only on emergency support.
Fourth, solutions should be implemented through practical approaches — starting small, testing ideas, learning from experience, and improving strategies.
Finally, successful solutions must be expanded so that what works in one community can benefit many others.
Examples from around the world show that prevention is possible. Converting waste into clean energy has helped reduce pollution-related health risks, while improved food preservation methods, including solar drying, have reduced food losses significantly.
The lesson is simple: investing in prevention saves lives and resources. A healthier environment creates a healthier population.
Universities, governments, and communities must work together to ensure that scientific knowledge does not remain in academic discussions but becomes a tool for real decision-making.
Public health does not begin in hospitals. It begins with the quality of our environment the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we protect, and the food we produce.
If we fix the systems that shape our lives, we can improve the health outcomes of future generations.
That is the power of systems thinking: turning evidence into action before crisis forces us to respond.
