Today is World Health Day

Today April 7, is World Health Day. Since health is one of the areas affected by climate change, this year, the World Health Day focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of change, with the theme “Protecting health from climate change”.

The physical effects of climate change will vary in different geographical location. The human health impacts from climates change are further modified by such conditions as level of development, poverty and education, public health infrastructure, land use practices and political structures. Developing countries will be hit the hardest and countries with high levels of poverty and mulnutrition, weak health infrastructure and or political unrest will be the least able to cope.

Climate change is wide ranging and effective adaptation will require the building of partnership to leverage the expertise of government agencies, inter-government and non-government organizations, industry and professional groups and local communities.

Decisions affecting urban plannings, transport, energy supply, food production, land use and water resources affect both climate and health. Collaboration across all these sectors is needed to find the innovative and effective solutions that will stabilize climate and protect health.

Equally, the full participation of the health sector in national and international processes for mitigation and adaptation to climate change is essential. More over if we fail to address climate change and its effects on health, we risk jeopardizing even further our ability to achieve the MDGs.