In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vidhe Sharma, MD, physician, Ruby Hall Clinic, Hinjawadi, pointed out how global warming and the surge in number of flu cases are interconnected by several factors.

The workshop organized by CENAT, KHANA and the Stop TB Partnership, comprised participants from the national program, the district and provincial health services, representatives from the patient support group program and TB survivors. Together they identified the challenges faced by people with TB along the pathway of care and ways in which digital technology could support people with TB, TB services and the national program.

The report, Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, says that climate change is already having a serious impact on the safety and health of workers in all regions of the world.

The ILO estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers (out of a global workforce of 3.4 billion) are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work, according to the most recent figures available (2020). When calculated as a share of the global workforce, the proportion has increased from 65.5 per cent to 70.9 per cent since 2000.

The climate crisis is driving temperatures up to unbearable levels all over the world leading to heat-related deaths, heat-related illnesses and putting strain on health systems all over the world. Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and estimates show that approximately 489 000 heat-related deaths occurred each year between 2000 and 2019.

The ILO estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers (out of a global workforce of 3.4 billion) are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work, according to the most recent figures available (2020). When calculated as a share of the global workforce, the proportion has increased from 65.5 per cent to 70.9 per cent since 2000.

“Extreme heat is the most visible effect of climate change, everyone is affected,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization. “Those with existing health conditions will be made much worse with extreme heat and it impacts the health of everyone in sometimes surprising ways. Even mental health is affected by heat, making people confused, anxious or even violent.”

Acute and prolonged exposure to excess heat causes heat stress on the body and exacerbates underlying illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, asthma and kidney disease. It can increase the risk of accidents, adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, and heighten the transmission of some infectious diseases. In extreme heat conditions, untreated heat stress can lead to heat stroke, which can be a fatal medical emergency.

As climatic conditions change, more frequent and intensifying weather and climate events are observed, including storms, extreme heat, floods, droughts and wildfires. These weather and climate hazards affect health both directly and indirectly, increasing the risk of deaths, noncommunicable diseases, the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and health emergencies.

Climate change is also having an impact on our health workforce and infrastructure, reducing capacity to provide universal health coverage (UHC). More fundamentally, climate shocks and growing stresses such as changing temperature and precipitation patterns, drought, floods and rising sea levels degrade the environmental and social determinants of physical and mental health. All aspects of health are affected by climate change, from clean air, water and soil to food systems and livelihoods. Further delay in tackling climate change will increase health risks, undermine decades of improvements in global health, and contravene our collective commitments to ensure the human right to health for all.

Using high-resolution population data and geographical tools like AccessMod, the research found a significant reduction in travel time accessibility to healthcare facilities. In regions affected by Cyclone Idai, accessibility for children under five dropped from 78.8% to 52.5%, affecting over 136,000 children. Cyclone Kenneth saw a smaller but notable impact, with accessibility falling from 82.2% to 71.5%.

The main barriers to healthcare included damaged roads, flooded areas, and non-functional health facilities. By overlaying travel constraints and population data, the study showed that the disruption of transport networks was the biggest cause of reduced accessibility. In Idai-affected areas, some communities experienced extreme travel delays, with travel times increasing from 1.3 hours to 63.6 hours. These insights highlight the need for integrated disaster response planning that considers health facility accessibility.

Post-disaster geographical modelling is critical for efficient disaster response, as it allows policymakers to prioritize medical resources based on accessibility losses. By identifying the most severely affected areas, aid can be deployed more effectively, reducing the long-term health impacts of such disasters.

This study highlights the role of geographical modelling in improving access to Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). By proposing three key indicators—proximity to EmONC facilities, referral time between basic and comprehensive facilities, and physical accessibility—the research emphasizes that healthcare planning must incorporate travel time and geography. This ensures equitable access to maternal care, especially in areas prone to infrastructure challenges.

They found that many LMICs meet global standards for EmONC facility density but fail to consider geographic factors that limit actual access, especially during critical times. For example, in Malawi and Nigeria, many women were unable to reach EmONC services within the recommended two-hour travel window, largely due to geographic barriers like inadequate roads. This has significant implications for maternal and newborn mortality rates, especially in areas vulnerable to climate-related disruptions, such as flooding or heatwaves, which can further hinder access to healthcare.

like dengue fever. These changing environmental conditions exacerbate health risks, overwhelming local healthcare systems.

This case study, part of the 2023 Adaptation Gap Report, highlights how the Caribbean Public Health Agency is taking a multisectoral approach to build climate-resilient health systems. Through initiatives such as early warning systems for infectious diseases, health vulnerability assessments, and public awareness campaigns, the region is building a model of climate adaptation in health.

Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, previously occurring in cycles of 7-10 years, now appear every 1-3 years due to climate shifts. Without effective adaptation, healthcare infrastructures will continue to be overwhelmed by these impacts. By focusing on capacity-building and coordinated leadership, the Caribbean's health systems are better prepared to address both immediate threats, such as hurricanes, and long-term challenges, like rising temperatures and disease outbreaks.

The initiative recognized that climate change disproportionately impacts women, who are often responsible for unpaid care work and have less access to resources like water, healthcare, and agricultural support. By extending health insurance to cover women farmers and their families, the program helped mitigate the economic risks posed by illness, ensuring that climate-induced health impacts don't further hinder their economic stability.

Over two-thirds of women in this region work in agriculture, yet many lack access to healthcare, worsening their vulnerability to climate-related health issues. Women in these areas often spend up to 12 hours per day on unpaid domestic work, exacerbated by droughts and extreme weather, which increases their care responsibilities. The health insurance program, supported by local women’s organizations, provided lower premiums and alternative payment options, benefiting over 1,300 women directly and extending coverage to nearly 7,000 people.

The flood displaced 33 million people, destroyed 1.2 million homes, and impacted critical infrastructure, including over 1,400 health facilities and 22,000 schools. The cascading impacts of the floods, which were exacerbated by climate change, led to food insecurity, increased disease outbreaks, and long-term damage to the country's economy, pushing millions into poverty.

Pakistan’s vulnerability is largely due to its reliance on agriculture, dependence on the Indus River system, and an arid climate. The 2022 floods were intensified by record-breaking monsoon rains, which were influenced by climate change, with Sindh and Balochistan provinces receiving up to 726% of their usual rainfall. This severe weather event created cascading effects, including outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria, widespread crop destruction, and the displacement of millions of people, especially in vulnerable rural areas.

They conclude by highlighting the importance of building adaptive capacity and resilience to address not just the immediate impacts of a climate disaster but the long lasting and cascading impacts that will only become more pressing as climate disasters increase both in number and scale.

Geospatial solutions will play a critical role in bridging the gap between climate science and policy, ensuring climate data is accessible and usable for decision-making across sectors like health, agriculture, and disaster risk reduction. By spatially enabling climate services, this approach enhances data interoperability, allowing for seamless integration of climate information with socioeconomic and health data.

One of the main challenges in climate services is delivering data in a way that supports the diverse needs of stakeholders. The report highlights examples where geospatial tools and standards have been successfully implemented to process and visualize climate data, such as using Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) to inform public health interventions in vulnerable regions. The goal is to create tailored, user-friendly products that enable efficient monitoring of climate impacts on health and other sectors.

Drought and famine cycles have severel affected Somalia, with water, sanitation, and food security at the core of the challenges.

To break this cycle, the government requested a Drought Impact and Needs Assessment (DINA) followed by a Resilience and Recovery Framework (RRF) aimed at identifying root causes and building strategies for recovery and resilience.

Key sectors such as water and sanitation, health, and food security were analyzed by over 180 experts, leading to comprehensive recovery strategies. For example, 42% of Somalis lack access to improved water sources, rising to nearly 80% in rural areas, while 5.5 million people have no access to basic healthcare. The MAPX platform integrates this data, offering the Somali government tools to visualize water access and the impacts of drought on key sectors like food security and health.

MAPX serves as a vital tool for improving information management, enabling decision-makers to prioritize recovery efforts and improve urban water systems and health infrastructure. By using geospatial tools, the platform supports decision making focused on expanding water supplies, improving health services, and enhancing food security, all of which are critical to breaking the cycle of vulnerability and poverty in Somalia.