Prof. Mawuli Dzodzomenyo (3rd right) with participants during the launch
The government has been urged to take urgent action to strengthen its health system against the adverse effects of climate change.
A study commissioned by the World Bank to assess the interplay between climate change and health found climate change as a major cause of vector and water borne diseases.
Launching the report, “Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA)”, at the World Bank country office in Accra, lead author and Head of Department, Biological Environmental and Occupational Health University of Ghana, Prof. Mawuli Dzodzomenyo, said climate change has contributed to diseases especially Malaria apart from its associated impacts on food security.
He, therefore, recommended the need for various sectors of the economy to collaborate to improve the impact of climate change while addressing health outcomes.
He said, “CHVA, also contributes to the development of climate resilient health systems. By analysing vulnerabilities, and adaptive capacities, decision makers can identify areas for improvement and allocate resources effectively”.
It said apart from Malaria, Ghana is also highly vulnerable to other illnesses like Diarrhoea, coupled with health issues related to heat and air pollution largely affecting children across the country.
Prof. Dzodzomenyo added that the study would provide more information for the health sector to be able to address the issues.
World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, for his part said the World Bank is focused on ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity with the view of not only implementing adaptation and mitigation measures but to prevent further adversities.
Some capacity gaps the study identified included the availability of many national climate change policies with varied focus on its health impacts.
It said that despite an increase in the total health work force, the country has inadequate staff while climate change training for health workers mainly covers Malaria overlooking broader heat impacts.
The report also recommended the development of a 10- year plan to make Ghana’s health sector resilient to climate change as well as engaging in multi-sectoral action to improve determinants of health among others.
Other individuals who shared their perspectives on the report were Zara Shubber, Senior Health Specialist of the World Bank, Prof. Kwasi Torpey, Dean, School of Public Health University of Ghana, Emmanuel Kyeremateng-Amoah, Health Specialist and Climate Health lead, UNICEF Ghana, among others.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah