By Dr Than Lwin Tun

 

Climate change is a global phenomenon with widespread impacts on health. It exacerbates existing health inequities and presents new challenges to global health systems. The following are key ar­eas where climate change affects global health: -

 

(1) Direct Health Impacts

(a) Heat-Related Illnesses

 

i. Increased Mortality: Rising temperatures contribute to higher mortality rates, es­pecially among vulnerable populations such as the el­derly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

 

ii. Heat Stress: Higher tem­peratures increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, in­cluding heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

 

(b) Extreme Weather Events

i. Natural Disaster: More fre­quent and severe hurricanes, floods, and wildfires result in physical injuries, deaths, and displacement.

 

ii. Mental Health: The trauma and stress from experiencing and surviving natural disas­ters can lead to long-term mental health issues, includ­ing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

 

(2) Indirect Health Impacts

(a) Air Quality Deterioration

i. Respiratory Conditions: In­creased air pollution and al­lergens due to climate change can worsen asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Dis­ease (COPD), and other res­piratory diseases.

 

ii. Cardiovascular diseases: Poor air quality is also linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

 

(b) Vector-Borne Diseases

i. Expanded Range of Vectors: Warmer temperatures and changing precipitation pat­terns expand the habitats of disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes and ticks. This leads to a higher incidence of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus disease.

 

ii. New Disease Outbreak: Ar­eas Changing climates can introduce new vector-borne diseases to previously unaf­fected.

 

(c) Food and Water Security

i. Malnutrition: Climate change affects crop yields and food production, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in low-income countries.

 

ii. Waterborne Diseases: Changes in water temper­ature and quality can increase the prevalence of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and other gastrointestinal infections.

 

(d) Social and Economic Dis­ruption

i. Migration: Climate-induced displacement can lead to over­crowded and unsanitary liv­ing conditions, increasing the spread of infectious diseases.

 

ii. Economic Impact: Climate change can delay economic development, reduce the re­sources available for health care, and increase poverty, which exacerbates health dis­parities.

 

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies

(1) Strengthening Health Sys­tem

a) Resilient Infrastructure: Building healthcare facilities that can withstand extreme weather events and ensuring continuous operation during disasters.

 

b) Surveillance System: De­veloping a robust system to monitor and respond to cli­mate-sensitive health risks.

 

(2) Reducing Emission

a) Clear Energy Transition: Moving towards renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

 

b) Sustainable Practices: En­couraging sustainable ag­riculture, transport, and in­dustrial practices to reduce environmental impact.

 

(3) Community Engagement and Education

a) Awareness Campaigns: Ed­ucating communities about the health impacts of climate change and promoting be­haviours that reduce health risks.

 

b) Local Resilience Building: Empowering communities to implement local solutions tailored to their specific cli­mate-related health risks.

 

Global Health Initiatives

International Collaboration

Global Health Organizations: International Organizations like the WHO, UNICEF, and the UN are working on initi­atives to combat the health impacts of climate change through research, funding, and policy advocacy.

 

Cross-Border Co-operation: Countries must work togeth­er to address transboundary health issues exacerbated by climate change, such as pan­demics and pollution.

 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG-3 (Good health and Well-being): Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

 

SDG-13 (Climate Action): Taking urgent action to com­bat climate change and its impacts.

 

In addition, climate change is a critical global health issue that requires coordinated action on multiple aspects. By address­ing both the direct and indirect health impacts of climate change through mitigation and adapta­tion strategies, global health can be protected and improved for current and future generations.