“Green hospitals” and education days, public health actions to mitigate climate change

Climate change is one of the most serious challenges humanity has ever faced. According to the World Health Organization-WHO itself, this is an unprecedented threat to public health and well-being.

Hence the world health daywhich is celebrated every April 7give priority this year to the adoption of measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to new climatic conditions.

The District Public Health Secretariat has been working urgently on comprehensive management of this global phenomenon, which is exacerbating some health threats and creating new challenges.

Climate change refers, according to the UN, to long-term changes in temperatures and weather patterns.

These changes can be natural, for example by variations in the solar cycle. But since the 19th century, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

(Read more: Five reasons why physical activity should be part of your routine)

How does climate change affect human health? According to the WHO, health is and will be affected by climate change through direct hits (heat waves, droughts, violent storms and sea level rise) and indirect impacts (respiratory and vector-borne diseases, food and water insecurity, malnutrition and forced displacement).

What is the district administration doing, hand in hand with its public health secretary, to mitigate and adapt to climate change?

Their actions focus on the program “Safe, healthy and sustainable hospitals”which aims to ensure that Health Provider Institutions-IPS reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

This is important because globally, healthcare facilities are responsible for around 4.4% of net global emissions. This is why since 2018, the Secretariat is a member of the Global Network of Green and Healthy Hospitals.

As part of this process, the May 3, 2022 Membership of the program will be awarded to 11 SPIs, demonstrating the city’s health sector commitment to reducing the environmental footprint.

With regard to adaptation, training and education plans are being developed on the health impacts associated with climate change and climate variability with ‘Environments for Life Community Committees’.

This process has been carried out with representatives of communes 3, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 16 and the village of Felidia, but hopes to extend it to delegates from all areas of the city. Additionally, currently in development Territorial Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change Environmental Health (PETACSA).

The District Public Health Secretariat celebrates the “World Health Day” and reaffirms its commitment to work, in what has been ranked as the greatest public health threat of the 21st century, to our planet and our health.

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District Public Health Communications Secretary