Translating sustainability into health policy in Nigeria: Reflections from the Sustainable Health Care module
30 March 2026
As climate change increasingly shapes population health outcomes, health systems must adapt in ways that are both sustainable and context-specific. In this blog, Baraka Mu'azu reflects on her experience of the Sustainable Health Care (SHC) module and how its systems-based approach has informed her work at the intersection of climate and public health policy in Nigeria.
About the author: Baraka Mu’azu is the Climate–Health Integration Lead at the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Her work sits at the intersection of climate change, health systems and public policy, supporting the translation of sustainability concepts into planning, coordination and implementation across levels of government. With a background in education, development and social research, Baraka brings a systems and equity-focused lens to climate-health integration in Nigeria. She undertook the Sustainable Health Care module as a standalone course to strengthen her ability to work across disciplines and adapt global frameworks to local contexts. Motivated by the programme’s collaborative learning environment, decolonial perspectives and strong engagement with faculty and peers, she has since been admitted to the MSc in Translational Health Sciences to further deepen her methodological and translational skills.
Why did you choose to take part in the Sustainable Health Care (SHC) module, and how was your experience?
Working at the intersection of climate and health requires constant translation across disciplines, institutions, and priorities. As a social scientist in public health policy, I was drawn to the SHC module for its focus on the health system as a whole. The module examined health systems at multiple levels, from international institutions and local governance to private-sector actors and facility-level planning. This systemic framing reflected the complexity of the policy environments I navigate in my work, while also attending to practical areas such as supply chains, resource use, governance and implementation.
The learning experience was dynamic and interactive. Tutors from a range of institutions, in addition to the University of Oxford, encouraged us to critique material, question assumptions and reflect on knowledge production and application. Instead of passively receiving content, we evaluated what worked and shared feedback to improve the programme. The environment fostered dialogue, reflection and openness.
What role did peer learning and interaction play?
Peer learning was central. Discussions were enriched by a diverse cohort working across the health sector, bringing clinical, policy, implementation and research perspectives. These exchanges tested ideas in real-world contexts and revealed both common challenges and varying approaches.
I appreciated the module's effort to encourage decolonial thinking, including space to reflect on how dominant frameworks are created and applied. Engaging with peers from different regions and fields made it easier to explore the climate-health nexus from multiple angles. Personally, I wanted tools for real translation and for adapting global innovations to my context. In Nigeria, this requires sensitivity to African social realities. The module enabled a critical examination of how innovations can be meaningfully adapted, rather than assuming universal applicability.
A collaborative facility engagement was carried out in Dass, Bauchi State, to improve the provision of maternal healthcare services
How has the course contributed to your current work?
In Nigeria, the climate-health conversation is new. My work builds understanding among stakeholders who rarely collaborate. I teach, engage, plan and coordinate. The SHC module turned complex sustainability concepts into practical frameworks I use for communication, planning and decision-making at a variety of levels.
My key takeaways from the module are clear: I now integrate climate considerations into health system reform from the earliest planning stages through implementation. I systematically tailor actions to local contexts and ensure interventions conform to standards for resilience and sustainability. As a direct result, my work has become more impactful and aligned with both environmental and health priorities.
Launch of the Health National Adaptation Plan at the Joint Annual Review with Minister of Health and other stakeholders
From a standalone module to the MSc in Translational Health Sciences
Along with the content, what stood out was the programme’s intellectual openness and respect for the cohort's knowledge. The ability to engage directly with tutors, question assumptions and learn alongside a rich, multidisciplinary cohort created a learning environment that embraced lived experiences. The module also aligned with my interest in decolonial approaches to sustainability and health. For example, reading the Decolonising Global Health blog series, a reflective blog series, resonated strongly with my own concerns about how global frameworks are produced and applied.
Most importantly, the course revealed a gap in my training: the need for a stronger grounding in the science of implementation, how evidence, innovation and policy are translated into action within complex health systems. This combination of intellectual rigour, methodological clarity, and respectful dialogue ultimately inspired me to pursue the MSc.
The Sustainable Health Care module taken by Baraka is now open for applications for 2027, and can be taken as a standalone, accredited course.
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