Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO) Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health, Elena Villalobos, said in an interview during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) that Health Day could be an argument for more ambitious commitments to reduce emissions enter.
Villalobos, who has worked in this team for 15 years, revealed that it was initially very difficult to explain that it is important to address the impact of the climate crisis on human health and that the WHO is working to make this visible.
He confirmed that there will also be a ministerial meeting for the first time, attended by almost 50 health ministers from around the world, as well as a declaration on climate change and health signed by more than 100 industry leaders.
“It is a call to all world leaders to make ambitious commitments to solve the problem that already affects us,” he stressed.
He mentioned that the nature of the impact of climate change on health depends on the country. Forest fires and heat waves occur in countries such as Spain and Portugal, the latter also affecting Africa and the Middle East and are the cause of death for many people.
He also warned of the increase in infectious diseases such as dengue fever and malaria. There are many episodes of dengue throughout Central America and the Caribbean, which are debilitating to our children.
He explained that malnutrition is linked to water quality and is the cause of diarrheal deaths among minors in African countries. Depending on the context, the effects are everywhere, but different, he emphasized.
Referring to how climate change can reverse progress in the sector, he recalled that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that health systems are capable of responding to unexpected events such as a heat wave or other extremes such as a… to respond when no resources are available Whether a hurricane or a flood, these systems collapse.
“This is already happening if we don’t invest in health systems,” he warned.
Speaking on behalf of the WHO, he expressed optimism that the health issue would allow leaders gathered at COP28 to work towards a meeting between countries. If we invest in health, we can reduce the economic costs of treating these problems.
Every year, he added, seven people die as a result of pollution, which is why it is necessary to implement more measures in transport and urban planning that reduce these emissions.
We will do the economy a favor by having a healthier population, using data that ensures that investments in health deliver double the economic amount invested.
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