Public Agenda (Accra)
11 April 2008
Accra — The theme for World Health Day 2008 is climate change and health. According to WHO the theme was selected to put one of the biggest challenges - climate change-at the centre of global health dialogue.
To a poor and developing country like Ghana, the choice of this theme is more appropriate, considering the fact that Ghana is currently experiencing the effects of global warming and its attendant unpredictable hazards to health and the rainfall pattern. More so, changes in the climate globally is said to be posing a greater threat to gains made in public health.
Increasing air temperature, heat waves, sea level rise, drought and storms are some of the climatic happenings in Ghana which are having devastating effects on water resources, agriculture, health, desertification and coastal zone settlements.
In the best parts of 2006 and 2007 Ghana experienced energy crisis due to the low water inflows into the Volta Reservoir. Environmental experts have warned that climate change on Ghana's water resources will reduce freshwater flows between 15-20% for the year 2020 and 30-40% for the year 2050 in all the basins.
These are signs that are written on the wall and should alert our policy makers to evolve policies that would preserve the environment if Ghana is to avoid few catastrophes.
Added to these is the effect climate change has on the most vulnerable groups of our society-women and children.
According to the WHO nearly 10 million children under age five die every year of largely preventable diseases. Many of the main global killers of children - including malaria and diarrhoea - are sensitive to changes in temperature and rainfall, and could become more common if weather patterns change.
In addition, women and children tend to be disproportionately affected by hurricanes and flooding, which climate change experts say will increase in intensity and frequency in coming years. The destruction of homes, schools and health centres resulting from natural disasters reduce services available to families.
In tackling climate change, the voices of women and children must be heard and their needs assessed as part of the national response to prospective changes to the environment. Besides, women and children must have access to the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves and their communities.
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