Climate change, together with other natural and human-made health stressors, influences human health and disease in numerous ways. Some existing health threats will intensify, and new health threats will emerge. Not everyone is equally at risk. Important considerations include age, economic resources, and location.
Globally, public health can be affected by disruptions of physical, biological, and ecological systems caused by climate change. The health effects of these disruptions include increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease, injuries and premature deaths related to extreme weather events, changes in the prevalence and geographical distribution of food- and water-borne illnesses and other infectious diseases, and threats to mental health.
Evidence shows that the climate crisis also rapidly deteriorates access to basic human needs such as food security, safe drinking water and sanitation, and clean air. The result, according to new World Bank data, is that a warmer climate could lead to at least 21 million additional deaths by 2050 from just five health risks: extreme heat, stunting, diarrhea, malaria, and dengue. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone. The direct damage costs to health are estimated to be between US$ 2–4 billion per year by 2030.
This seminar will propose avenues for a policy-oriented research agenda on the impact of climate change on health and nutrition in low-income countries. Professor Tobias Rinke, who is a Professor of molecular biology and epidemiology and Director of Research and Learning at PharmAccess Foundation the Netherlands, will give a detailed briefing about climate change and its effect on the global health. Dr. Masresha Tessema from EPHI and Dr. Eyale Bayable from Addis Ababa University will share their experiences too.
The audience will have an opportunity to interact with the speakers during the Q&A session.
Introduction:
Dr. Aregash Samuel, NIPN Ethiopia National Coordinator, Senior Researcher at the Food Science and Nutrition Research Directorate, EPHI
Moderator
Dr. Adugna Woyessa, Senior Researcher at Bacteriology, Parasitology and Zoonosis Research Directorate, EPHI
Speaker: Professor Tobias Rinke de Wit, Director Research and Learning at Pharm Access Foundation, The Hague, the Netherlands
Panelist 1: Dr. Derek Headey, Senior Research Fellow in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit with International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
Panelist 2: Dr. Eyale Bayable, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University
Time: 10:00 am (Addis time)
Venue: Virtual platform
Join link:
https://zoom.us/j/93673219994?pwd=TitrbTVvNzBjQ3ZLOW5mZk1DYnNyQT09
Meeting ID: 936 7321 9994
Passcode: 710460
