Experts: Healthcare systems need to be capable of adapting climate change

Date:

Trending

There is an increasing need to strengthen health systems to be climate resilient and adaptable to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Chief Scientist at WHO Soumya Swaminathan said Saturday. “We have seen in India and other parts of the world the devastating impacts of climate change on people’s health but also the damaging impacts of institutions which are providing healthcare like primary healthcare centers and hospitals.

- Advertisement -

“We need to design healthcare facilities to be climate adaptable, for example health centres being less dependent on fossil fuel and adapting to renewable energy sources,” she said in a video address at the National Health Conclave 2019.

She said electricity and running water are absolutely essential to provide quality healthcare facilities to the people.

- Advertisement -

Other area of focus is the use of plastics and cost effective, environment-friendly and effective disposal of plastic in our health systems, she said.

The Centre for Environmental Health (CEH), a Centre of Excellence within the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), and Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) organised a day-long conclave dedicated to the health impacts of climate change in India and appropriate risk mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Professor K Srinath Reddy, President of PHFI, said climate change has become the defining threat of the century and human civilisation as it advances and there is an increasing need to build climate smart and climate resilient health systems.

The impacts of climate change are multiple in nature including the increase of vector borne diseases, an array of chronic diseases which include cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney disorders and burden on water, exacerbated impact of air pollution on health, heat stress impacts on human health, and growing impact on mental health, he said.

“It is well demonstrated that rise in temperature increases the growth of inter-group and intra-group conflicts. These are some of the consequences the health system has to deal with.

“Our nutrition and food systems are vulnerable to climate change, in terms of both reduced production and quality of staples, non-staples, fruits and vegetables. In spite of mounting evidence of the impact of climate change and health, there is a wavering political will in some countries and the voices of climate denial are growing shrill and strident. This needs to be countered by the health sector acting as the conscience keeper of society through evidence-based advocacy,” he said.

Reddy asserted the health sector can make a substantial contribution by adopting green technologies to reduce various greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing energy consumption by adopting renewable energies.

Health care providers also have an opportunity to be effective communicators of good science on the potential health threats and health effects that have already been documented to policy makers, urging them to act.

“The health sector also has to develop climate resilient health systems that can function efficiently even in the challenging circumstances of climate induced extreme weather events and disasters like heavy rains, floods and power failures,” he said.

Mr Gary Cohen, President and Co-Founder, Healthcare without Harm, said, “Climate change resulting from growing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities (anthropogenic) are of increasing concern as this is a prime cause for global warming.

“In India, the major sources of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (major component of GHG) emissions come from combustion of fossil fuels, principally coal, oil and natural gas, apart from deforestation, changes in land use, soil erosion and agriculture (including livestock). Reducing our carbon emissions therefore becomes of prime importance.”

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

00:01:49

Trump Claims U.S. Trade Threat Helped Defuse India-Pakistan Ceasefire

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration played a key role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan by making future trade...

Operation Sindoor: India, Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After High-Level Military Talks

India and Pakistan agreed on Saturday to halt all military activities across land, air, and sea, marking a significant pause in rising tensions over recent weeks. The decision came after a direct call between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) earlier in the...

India Says Pakistan Attempted Large-Scale Drone Incursions, Used Civilian Flights as Cover

India on Friday accused Pakistan of attempting large-scale drone incursions across the western border...

The Future of B2B Commerce: E-commerce Platforms and Beyond

The way companies buy items and sell services has changed a lot from the...

Why Crypto Traders Are Flocking to Cap-tex Now

A recent surge in cryptocurrency prices, driven by global economic shifts and high-profile endorsements,...

How AI-Powered Online Platforms Are Revolutionizing Life Insurance Recommendations

Anyone with a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent as a...

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people...

How Technology Helps Combat Various Viruses and Diseases

Technology has transformed the ways we approach vaccines, particularly for the flu. One noteworthy...

No OTPs, No Hassles: The Rise of Passwordless Digital Payments

India is pacing toward a passwordless future in the digital payments ecosystem. Technologically, it’s a big win, with faster checkouts, seamless user experiences, and...

12 Eye-Popping Hacks to Make Your Next Business Presentation Sparkle

Business presentations are often necessary to gain new clients and showcase what it is...

The Long-Term Power of Investing: Selecting Undervalued Industries

Investing can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners, as the numerous options and strategies available...

How a Money Back Policy Can Be a Smart Financial Choice?

Creating financial security involves strategic planning because investment decisions form one of the essential...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

Shell Executive Robin Mooldijk Sells €1.69 Mn in Shares

Shell plc’s Projects & Technology Director, Robin Mooldijk, has offloaded 50,000 shares in the company, amounting to approximately €1.69 million. According to the filing, the...

HR Chief Amy Coleman Reports Over 46,000 Microsoft Shares in SEC Filing

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Chief Human Resources Officer, Amy Coleman, has reported her stock holdings in a recent regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the Form 3 filing, "Coleman owns 46,023 shares of Microsoft common stock, along with 18,100 restricted...

BGC Group raises $700 Mn in bond sale to refinance debt

BGC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGC) has finalized a $700 million private offering of senior...

Alphabet Legal Chief John Kent Walker to Sell $2Mn in Shares via Morgan Stanley

Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Chief Legal Officer, John Kent Walker Jr., has filed to...
00:02:53

Canada, Australia Partner to Build $6 Bn Arctic Radar System

In a bid to enhance Arctic and national security, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney...

Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead Offloads Shares as Part of Trading Plan

According to regulatory filings, Jennifer Newstead, Chief Legal Officer at Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:...

Nvidia Director Aarti Shah to Sell Shares Worth $2.37 Mn

Aarti S. Shah, a director at NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), has filed a notice...

Alphabet Board Member Frances Arnold Increases Stake Following Dividend Allocation

According to a recent regulatory filing, Frances Arnold, a board member at Alphabet Inc.,...

Layer PR Wins SME News UK Awards, Expands to Bengaluru

Layer PR, a global public relations firm owned by TechGraph, has secured two major...

Google Acquires Wiz for $32 Billion in All-Cash Deal

Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) has signed a deal...

The Future of Digital Payments and Cybersecurity Challenges

The future of digital payments is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changes in...

How a Money Back Policy Can Be a Smart Financial Choice?

Creating financial security involves strategic planning because investment decisions form one of the essential...

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Fonts in Your Design Projects

Fonts play a crucial role in every design project, from branding and web design...

Predictive Analytics: The Key to Supply Chain Resilience

In today’s interconnected global economy, supply chains are the lifeblood of businesses, weaving intricate...

Software and Technology Changing the Industry

The advent of software and technological advancements has been a game-changer across various industries....

Jensen Huang Offloads $49.8Mn in Nvidia Shares

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO and President Jen-Hsun Huang has disclosed the sale of 431,611...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

Google Acquires Wiz for $32 Billion in All-Cash Deal

Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) has signed a deal...

The Sustainability Imperative: How IT Distribution Is Driving Green Tech Adoption

In today's day and time sustainability is no longer just a corporate commitment, it...

The Future of Digital Payments and Cybersecurity Challenges

The future of digital payments is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changes in...