By: Oforiwa Darko
Several conversations and contributions by global leaders and climate activists at COP 28, held at the Expo City in Dubai, UAE, reveal that the impact of climate change on people’s health continue to be a growing concern.
“Despite being considered as one of the greatest health emergency of the 21st century, the wide-ranging impact of climate change on human health deserves far more attention,” says Dr Mary Rice, the Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.
“The impacts of climate change on human health could lead to premature mortality and exacerbate pre-existing health conditions among people. Everybody is at risk, however the most vulnerable are young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, disabilities and other marginalised groups in general” Dr Rice further emphasised that vulnerable people face a higher level of risk.
It is anticipated that some of the worst effects of climate change will be felt in Sub-Saharan Africa. People in these parts of the world are continuously exposed to water-related contaminants and illnesses.
A review of cholera seasonality suggests, a long association with climate change and poor sanitation. The outbreak of cholera is associated with heavy rainfall and floods, particularly in Ghana, Nigeria, Southern and Eastern African countries.
In Ghana, Namibia, South Africa and Ethiopia, precipitation and temperature increase the number of diarrhoea cases, resulting in many deaths. In Kenya, there is an estimated 3.5 million new clinical cases and 10,700 deaths each year. As it does in many countries around the world.
“Where cooler places now are becoming warmer, we are seeing increased malaria rate in those areas because of mosquito multiplication,” said Richard Munang, Head of Global Environment Monitoring Systems at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Experts warn other continents are at risk too, as the climate crisis accelerates.
Researchers say air, water and plastic pollution and oil spills have increased in these times because of the erratic climatic conditions, which is mostly caused by a lot of factors including wildfires, burning of fossil fuels, illegal mining and fishing and deforestation.
Interacting with Dr Mary Rice at the World Health Organisations’ Pavilion at COP 28, she noted that extreme wildfires which are frequently recorded in some countries as a result of climate change, lead to toxic plumes of smoke, affecting the local populations.
“People who live around these areas are likely to suffer especially from lung diseases, as a result of inhaling toxic smoke. As a Medical Doctor and a mother, I am worried about how climate change is exacerbating the health of my patients, and how unhealthy it is for my children and many other children out there, as well as their future”.
Wildfire smoke is a mixture of hazardous air pollutants. In addition to contaminating the air with toxic pollutants, wildfires also simultaneously impact the climate by releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
According to the Centre for Climate Change and Energy Solutions, irresponsible land use and forest management increases wildfire risk. Changes in climate in addition to these factors are expected to continue to increase in countries affected by wildfires.
“At COP 28, whilst we are here, we should focus on taking action to address climate change, and when we do that people will get healthier. A biggest example is when we cut burning of fossil fuels, whether its for energy or transportation. It would help if we incorporate health into every decision about climate mitigation, and we do that, then we can make the right decisions to improve equity and health across the globe”, the Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School further added.
A World Bank Group report states, that disaster-related health impacts are likely to increase with the intensification of cyclones and floods, heat stress will worsen as high temperatures become more common and water scarcity increases, malnutrition, especially in children, is projected to become more prevalent with an increase in droughts and where livelihoods are threatened by coastal erosion or warming seas, vector and water-borne diseases will expand in range as conditions favour mosquitoes, flies and other pathogens.
These threats are greatest in regions where the population is most dense, most vulnerable, and least equipped to adapt, pushing more people into poverty.
Sub-Saharan countries, which comprise 48 of some of the world’s poorest countries, are at particular risk of negative health impacts, given the climate sensitivity of the region and countries’ limited ability to adapt to climate shocks.
