Plenary 6

Lydia R. Leonardo, DrPHCollege of Public HealthUniversity of the Philippines Manila

(Based on McMichael et.al. 1995 p565)

Altered frequency and/or intensity of other weather extremes

Ways in which climate change can affect human health

Effects on range and activity of vectors and

infective parasites

Altered local ecology of water-borne and food-borne infective agents

Altered food productivity due to changes in climate, weather, pests and diseases

Sea level rise; with population displacement and

damage to infrastructure

Air pollution; including pollen and spores

Social, economic, and demographic disturbance

Exposure to thermal extremesDeaths, injuries, and psychological disorders,

damage to public health infrastructure

Changes in geographic ranges and incidence of

vector-borne diseases

Changes in incidence of diarrheal and certain other infectious diseases

Regional malnutrition and hunger, consequent impairment of growth and development

Injuries, increased risks of various infectious

diseases, psychological disorders

Asthma, allergic disorders; other acute and

chronic respiratory disorders and deaths Wide range of public health consequences (e.g. civil strife, nutritional impairment) economic, and

demographic disturbance

Heat and cold-related illness and death

MEDIATING PROCESS HEALTH OUTCOMESDIRECT EFFECTS

INDIRECT EFFECTS

“Overall, climate change is projected to increase threats to human health,particularly in lower income populations,predominantly within tropical/subtropical countries.”

Third Assessment Report the IPCC (2001)

“The actual health impacts will be strongly influenced by local environmental conditions and socio-economic circumstances, and by the range of social, institutional, technological, and behavioural adaptations taken to reduce the full range of threats to health.”

“The vulnerability of a population depends on factors

such as population density, level of economic development, food

availability, income level and distribution, local environmental

conditions, pre-existing health status, and the quality and

availability of public health care.”

An Initial Examination of Potential Association of Climate Change and Some Facets of Health

Based on Philippine Weather and Health Reports

Jonathan David A. Flavier MD, MA; Lead ResearcherMaria Lourdes L. Baylon MA and Glenn Roy V. Paraso MD, MPH; Co-Researchers

COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT FOR ENCOURAGING NSV (CMEN)15-B Matapat Street, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City, 1100 Philippines

Water-borne Diseases

• 1. Cholera

• 2. Cryptosporidiasis

• 3. E. coli infection

• 4. Giardiasis

• 5. Shigellosis

• 6. Typhoid

• 7. Hepatitis A

Rodent-Borne Diseases

• 1. Leptospirosis

• 2. Tulaeremia

• 3.Hemorrhagic disease

• 4. Tick-borne encephalitis

• 5. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Vector-borne Diseases

• Jointly affected by climatic conditions, population movement, forest clearance, land-use pattern, biodiversity losses, freshwater surface configuration and human population density

• Examples are malaria, dengue, filariasis, schistosomiasis

National Consolidation - Cases of Mosquito Vector-Borne Diseases HEALTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE

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Health outcomes measured in climate change

•Food and water-borne disease - Diarrhoea episodes

•Vector-borne disease - Malaria cases

•Natural disasters - Fatal unintentional injuries

•Risk of malnutrition - Non-availability of recommended daily calorie intake

•*All natural disaster impacts are separately attributed to coastal floods and to inland floods/

• changes in air pollution and

aeroallergen levels

• altered transmission of other

infectious diseases

• effects on food production via

climatic influences on plant pests

and diseases

• drought and famine

population displacement due to

natural disasters, crop failure,

water shortages

Health Impacts that are not currently quantifiable (1)

• destruction of health

infrastructure in natural disasters

• conflict over natural resources

• direct impacts of heat and cold

Health Impacts that are not currently quantifiable (2)

Adaptation

“Adjustment in natural or human systems in

response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or

their effects, which moderates harm or exploits

beneficial opportunities.”

Adaptive Capacity

“The ability of a system to adjust to climate change

(including climate variability and extremes) to moderate

potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities,

or to cope with consequences.”

The extent to which human health is affected depends on:

(i) The exposures of populations to climate

change and its environmental

consequences,

(ii) the sensitivity of the population to the exposure, and

(iii) the ability of affected systems

and populations to adapt

The rebuilding and maintaining of public health

infrastructure is often viewed as the“most important, cost-

effective and urgently needed” adaptation strategy.

This includes public health training, more effective

surveillance and emergency response systems, and sustainable

prevention and control programs.

Thank you.