World Health Day

[S.N. Iyer]

World Health Day, on 7 April, marks the founding of the World Health
Organization and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a
subject of major importance to global health each year. In 2008, World
Health Day focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse
effects of climate change.

The theme "protecting health from climate change" puts health at the
centre of the global dialogue about climate change. WHO selected this
theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing
threats to global public health security.

Through increased collaboration, the global community will be better
prepared to cope with climate-related health challenges worldwide.
Examples of such collaborative actions are: strengthening surveillance
and control of infectious diseases, ensuring safer use of diminishing
water supplies, and coordinating health action in emergencies.

Key messages for World Health Day 2008

Health is one of the areas most affected by climate change - and it is
being affected now
The science is clear. The earth is warming, the warming is
accelerating, and human actions are responsible. If current warming
trends remain uncontrolled, humanity will face more injury, disease
and death related to natural disasters and heatwaves; higher rates of
foodborne, waterborne, and vector-borne illness; and more premature
deaths and disease related to air pollution. Moreover, in many parts
of the world, large populations will be displaced by rising sea level
and affected by drought and famine. As glaciers melt, the hydrological
cycle shifts and the productivity of arable land changes. We are
beginning to be able to measure some of these effects on health even
now.

The health impacts of climate change will hit the poor hardest

The physical effects of climate change will vary in different
geographical locations. The human health impacts from climate change
are further modified by such conditions as level of development,
poverty and education, public health infrastructure, land use
practices and political structure. Initially, developing countries
will be hit the hardest. Countries with high levels of poverty and
malnutrition, weak health infrastructures and/or political unrest will
be the least able to cope. Moreover, if we fail to address climate
change and its effects on health, we risk jeopardizing even further
our ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Traditional public health tools are important components of effective
response to climate change
Clean water and sanitation; safe and adequate food; immunization;
disease surveillance and response; safe and effective disease vector
control; and disaster preparedness are all critical components of
public health practices that are also adaptations to climate change.
These programmes need to be strengthened globally with special
concentration of effort in high-risk locations and populations in
order to prevent climate-related injury, disease and death.

Cross-sector, interdisciplinary partnerships are necessary to meet
this global health threat
Climate change is wide ranging, and effective adaptation will require
the building of partnerships to leverage the expertise of government
agencies, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations,
industry and professional groups and local communities. Decisions
affecting urban planning, 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.

Action must begin now to protect health by applying both adaptation
and mitigation

Scientific uncertainty persists about the possibility and timing of
abrupt and catastrophic climate change if temperatures continue to
rise. This makes it urgent for action to begin now to stabilize the
climate through strong and effective mitigation undertaken
simultaneously with adaptation activities to prevent increases in
foreseeable climate-related illnesses. Full participation of the
health sector in national and international processes for mitigation
and adaptation to climate change is essential.