{"id":84407,"date":"2022-04-06T19:30:07","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T17:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/africa-news\/central-africa\/congo\/africa-faces-rising-climate-linked-health-emergencies\/"},"modified":"2022-04-06T19:30:07","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T17:30:07","slug":"africa-faces-rising-climate-linked-health-emergencies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/africa-news\/central-africa\/congo\/africa-faces-rising-climate-linked-health-emergencies\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa Faces Rising Climate-linked Health Emergencies"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Climate-related health emergencies are on the rise in Africa, accounting for more than half of public health events recorded in the region over the past two decades, a new analysis by World Health Organization (WHO) shows.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The analysis found that of the 2121 public health events recorded in the African region between 2001 and 2021, 56% were climate-related. The region is witnessing an increase in climate-linked emergencies, with 25% more climate-related events recorded between 2011 and 2021 compared with the previous decade.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

World Health Day is being marked on 7 April under the theme \u201cOur Planet. Our Health.\u201d WHO is calling on governments to, among other recommendations, prioritize human well-being in all key decisions, stop new fossil fuel explorations and subsidies, tax polluters and implement WHO air quality guidelines.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cClimate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity. The entire foundation of good health is in jeopardy with increasingly severe climatic events. In Africa, frequent floods, water- and vector-borne diseases are deepening health crises. Although the continent contributes the least to global warming, it bears the full consequences,\u201d said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The WHO analysis found that water-borne diseases accounted for 40% of the climate-related health emergencies over the past two decades. In Africa, diarrhoeal diseases are the third leading cause of disease and death in under 5 children. A significant proportion of these deaths is preventable through safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The analysis also showed that vector-borne diseases, notably yellow fever, accounted for 28% of the climate-related health emergencies, while zoonotic diseases, specifically Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever, were the third most prevalent. Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease transmitted to people from ticks and livestock and has an outbreak fatality rate of up to 40%.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Natural disasters have also spiked dramatically since 2010, with 70% of all-natural disasters occurring between 2017 and 2021. Floods were the most frequent event, accounting for 33% of all the reported natural disasters.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Africa is also grappling with other significant health impacts linked to climatic shocks including malnutrition and hunger due to adverse weather on agricultural production, long-term health and development challenges in children, as well as other infectious diseases such as malaria.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In Africa, climate change is likely to expand the range of malaria high-risk zones, according to a report by the Netherlands-based Global Centre on Adaptation. Even though malaria mortality has decreased from 840 000 deaths in 2000 to 602 000 deaths in 2020, the disease remains a major health challenge on the continent.<\/p>\n

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).<\/i><\/p>\n

Source<\/a>
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South Africa Today Africa \u2013 Central Africa Congo<\/a> News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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