Afrigather Zimbabwe commits to constructing climate-resilient and sustainable well being techniques.
Harare – Zimbabwe has formally dedicated to the COP26 Well being initiative and joined the WHO-led Alliance for Transformative Motion on Local weather Change (ATACH), changing into the 29th nation within the African area. This important step displays the nation’s dedication to enhancing its well being techniques’ resilience to local weather change and the nation’s dedication to construct sustainable, low-carbon healthcare system. This resolution marks a pivotal second for the nation because it embarks on a journey to develop climate-resilient and sustainable well being techniques in alignment with world well being and local weather commitments.
The WHO-led ATACH was established as a follow-up to the COP26 Well being initiative, aimed toward supporting international locations in implementing methods that promote well being techniques resilient to local weather change whereas lowering carbon footprints. By becoming a member of ATACH, the Authorities of Zimbabwe demonstrates its dedication to this very important mission, with a proactive method to addressing the rising impacts of local weather change on public well being.
Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Well being and Little one Care, emphasised the important position of healthcare techniques in Africa as they confront climate-induced emergencies. He highlighted the pressing must construct group resilience and strengthen healthcare infrastructure in mild of looming climate-driven illness outbreaks. He made his remarks through the high-level assembly for Ministers of Well being and delegates on the Local weather and Well being Africa Convention, the place Zimbabwe formally handed over its letter of intention to affix the ATACH.
A central side of Zimbabwe’s ATACH dedication would be the growth of a well being system able to withstanding the challenges posed by local weather change. The federal government plans to conduct a complete local weather change and well being vulnerability and adaptation evaluation, anticipated to be accomplished by September 2025. This evaluation will function a important basis for crafting a Well being Nationwide Adaptation Plan (HNAP), which goals to combine well being issues into the broader Nationwide Adaptation Plan by September 2026. This strategic planning is important for aligning well being insurance policies with the nation’s total local weather resilience technique.
Along with adaptation efforts, Zimbabwe is dedicated to establishing a sustainable low-carbon well being system that meets the emission targets outlined within the Paris Settlement. This consists of conducting a baseline evaluation of greenhouse fuel emissions from well being services and their provide chains, with an motion plan for growing a low-carbon well being system set for publication by Could 2025. Notably, Zimbabwe has set an bold goal of reaching net-zero emissions within the well being sector by 2050, underscoring its dedication to sustainability and public well being.
To assist these initiatives, Zimbabwe intends to leverage its vulnerability and adaptation assessments, together with the HNAP, to entry very important local weather change funding via nationwide and worldwide mechanisms such because the World Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Inexperienced Local weather Fund (GCF). This funding will probably be instrumental in facilitating the transition to a climate-resilient well being infrastructure.
Zimbabwe’s participation in ATACH will allow energetic engagement in numerous thematic working teams centered on important areas resembling financing commitments for climate-resilient well being techniques, guaranteeing inexperienced provide chains, and sustainable well being practices. This dedication not solely addresses rapid well being challenges posed by local weather change but in addition positions Zimbabwe as a frontrunner in regional and world dialogues on well being and local weather resilience. The strategic alignment is anticipated to yield long-term advantages, safeguarding the well being of Zimbabwe’s residents and contributing to broader worldwide local weather objectives.
WHO performs an important position in selling the resilience of well being techniques to local weather change by offering steerage, assets, and assist to international locations globally. By means of initiatives just like the ATACH, the WHO is facilitating collaboration amongst international locations to develop methods that combine well being issues into local weather motion plans. WHO can be supporting international locations to boost their well being infrastructure, guaranteeing they’re higher geared up to face up to the rising challenges posed by local weather variability and excessive climate occasions.
WHO Consultant to Zimbabwe Dr Desta Tiruneh counseled Zimbabwe’s resolution to affix ATACH, emphasizing that this dedication is an important step in direction of constructing a more healthy, extra resilient future for the nation. “This initiative will not be solely about defending well being right this moment but in addition about guaranteeing that future generations can thrive in a altering local weather. Zimbabwe’s proactive method will serve for instance for different nations within the area.”
