Local weather change is more and more acknowledged as one of many best well being threats of the twenty first century. Local weather dangers are growing, and Ghana is not any exception. From lethal heatwaves, erratic rainfall, flooding to rising circumstances of climate-sensitive ailments, the local weather disaster will exert extra pressures on the nation’s well being and social care programs. Local weather change is immediately contributing to humanitarian emergencies from heatwaves, wildfires, floods, drought, tropical storms and hurricanes and they’re growing in scale, frequency, and depth.
Analysis reveals that 3.6 billion individuals already stay in areas extremely vulnerable to local weather change. Between 2030 and 2050, local weather change is anticipated to trigger roughly 250 000 extra deaths per yr, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and warmth stress alone.
In response to those compounding dangers, World Well being Group (WHO), with help from the UK International Commonwealth and Growth Workplace (UKFCDO) and companions supported the Ministry of Well being/Ghana Well being Service to undertake a well being vulnerability and adaptation to local weather change evaluation. The evaluation sought to determine vulnerability to well being dangers, well being system capacities and adaptative capacities to response to local weather associated illness danger.
The Ministry of Well being with WHO convened the primary, in a sequence of stakeholder validation workshops, on a draft of Ghana’s harmonized Local weather Change and Well being Vulnerability and Adaptation Evaluation. The workshop introduced collectively policymakers, researchers, civil society, and growth companions to overview findings and supply inputs in direction of finalizing the evaluation, which is anticipated to information the event of Ghana’s Well being Nationwide Adaptation Plan (HNAP).
Dr. Frank Lule, WHO Officer in Cost in Ghana, emphasised the significance of the harmonized evaluation for constructing a climate-resilient well being system. “This evaluation is a crucial instrument that helps us perceive how local weather change is affecting the well being of Ghanaians—from elevated illness burden to influence on service supply—and the way we are able to adapt. WHO stays dedicated to working with Ghana and companions to make sure the well being sector will not be solely protected but additionally proactive within the face of local weather change”, he acknowledged.
The Local weather Change and Well being Vulnerability and Adaptation Evaluation consolidates a number of sectoral assessments and projections of the influence of local weather change on well being right into a unified nationwide framework. It highlights regional well being vulnerabilities, identifies climate-sensitive ailments, and recommends adaptive methods. It additionally goals to offer a baseline to combine well being into Ghana’s broader local weather adaptation efforts below the Paris Settlement.
Enyonam Azumah, Crew Chief, Human Growth from the UK’s International, Commonwealth & Growth Workplace (UKFCDO), reiterated the significance of collaborative planning. “UK FCDO Ghana is delighted to have partnered with the Ministry of Well being, Ghana Well being Service, World Financial institution, WHO, and all of you to help this harmonised evaluation. Constructing adaptation into the well being system and throughout sectors means beginning now, and this evaluation will give us the proof base to successfully goal our efforts and guarantee well being is mirrored throughout Ghana’s efforts to fight local weather change”, she stated.
Because the well being influence of local weather change turns into extra pronounced, the Local weather Change and Well being Vulnerability and Adaptation Evaluation presents a vital proof base for Ghana to prioritize interventions, enhance coordination throughout sectors, and shield weak populations.
Representing the Ministry of Well being, Mr Ernest Owusu Sekyere, the Head of Planning and Price range, MoH added, “this coverage frameworks will spotlight the well being sector’s motion plan for local weather change adaptation for the medium time period and function a springboard for accessing international local weather funding mechanism for well being resilience initiatives”.
The validation course of included knowledgeable critiques, stakeholder consultations, and area disaggregated knowledge evaluation. Contributors examined dangers, reviewed, and proposed context-specific options, and mentioned the best way to mainstream local weather resilience into present well being and growth methods.
This effort indicators a significant step ahead in Ghana’s local weather and well being agenda—one which ensures coverage selections are knowledgeable by science, formed by inclusive dialogue, and guided by a dedication to fairness and sustainability.
For Extra Info or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Abdul-Lahie Abdul-Rahim Naa
Communications Officer
WHO Ghana Nation Workplace
Electronic mail: abdullahiea [at] who.int (abdullahiea[at]who[dot]int)
Tel: +233 20 196 2393