Climate change and its impact on public health, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, Universal Health Care, Antimicrobial Resistance and Non-communicable Diseases are some of the headliners that the Bahamian Delegation attending the 77th World Health
Assembly (WHA) will provide interventions on. The topics are core elements of discussions at this year’s Assembly being held under the theme “All Health, Health for All.”
Acting Director of Public Health and focal point for Climate Change and Health in the Ministry of Health & Wellness, Dr. Phillip Swann, cited the critical impact of climate change on public health as it relates to the local dynamic stating, “The Bahamas is one of the most vulnerable countries out of the 194 WHA Member States as it relates to climate change.
Not only are we faced with the geographical challenges of being a low-lying country and the ever present threat of hurricanes and other adverse weather patterns, but we are also at risk for the impact of diseases from vectors whose numbers increase following heavy rains ” Dr. Swann said, “While the country, due to its classification by GDP by the World Bank cannot benefit from direct funding for mitigation and preparedness actions under available World Health Organization mechanisms, The Bahamas has an enduring challenge of identifying and securing funding to engaging the requisite steps to adapt to climate change and its potential negative impact to the sustainability health care services delivery and infrastructure.”
Challenges facing The Bahamas and other small developing states include ensuring that healthcare facilities are safe and can remain operational during and soon after disasters. The World Health Assembly has reported that in the Americas, 67% of heath facilities are located in areas prone to the effects of natural disasters. A fact that is further supported by the reality that globally, over the past 10 years, 24 million people were left without access to health care for months because of the inoperability of health infrastructure that sustained damage after climate change related events.
From: Bahamas Information Services
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