The Authorities of Botswana performed a Local weather Change Well being Vulnerability and Adaptation Evaluation in chosen districts to establish high-risk areas and weak populations affected by local weather change. The target was to strengthen the nation’s well being sector to successfully and effectively reply to climate-related impacts.
The evaluation report, based mostly on local weather eventualities, gives proof that Botswana is very weak to local weather change. It highlights that key financial sectors will face growing dangers until efficient adaptation and mitigation measures are carried out. The report additionally underscores the influence of local weather change on well being by way of a number of pathways, together with excessive climate occasions, air air pollution, meals insecurity, and the unfold of waterborne and climate-sensitive illnesses. These challenges are anticipated to put rising strain on the well being system, necessitating pressing motion. The findings supply a vital baseline for monitoring adjustments in illness dangers, outbreaks, and preventive measures whereas strengthening the understanding of the linkages between local weather change and well being.
These insights will play a key function in enhancing Botswana’s well being system by informing insurance policies and guiding the event of the Nationwide Well being Adaptation Plan (H-NAP). With seed funding from the Wellcome Belief, WHO’s nation workplace recruited a advisor to evaluate each present and projected local weather change impacts on well being, malnutrition, and illness burden in Botswana. The evaluation examined direct results, environmentally mediated impacts, and socially mediated influences utilizing obtainable knowledge. It additionally analyzed well being system vulnerabilities, adaptation capacities, and at-risk populations, with a give attention to youngsters, gender, and fairness. The methodology included a desk assessment of knowledge, insurance policies, pointers, and commonplace working procedures (SOPs) from the Ministry of Well being and different key sectors. Moreover, area visits have been performed to well being amenities within the chosen districts, the place well being employees have been interviewed.
On December 10, 2024, WHO offered technical and monetary help to the Ministry of Well being to convene key stakeholders, companions, and the Vulnerability & Adaptation (V&A) Steering Committee for a session and consensus-building assembly. Throughout this session, the advisor introduced the draft evaluation report, and stakeholders offered feedback and suggestions that additional strengthened the findings. Individuals included specialists from academia (College of Botswana and Botswana Agricultural Faculty), analysis establishments (Okavango Analysis Institute), and key representatives from the Ministry of Well being, Division of Meteorological Providers, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Native Authorities, and Statistics Botswana. Moreover, the Purple Cross and varied community-based organizations (CBOs) have been represented.