Recognizing the need for a national plan to deal with health issues resulting from climate change, the Ministry of health met to discuss with stakeholders last Wednesday June 3rd.
The consultation was aimed at providing participants with a background to health and climate variability and change and provide opportunities for discussion on the country's response to the adverse impact which climate change has on health.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Johnson, says climate change data can be used in planning for the health sector.
He says that he challenge is however that that data is not easily available to the Ministry of Health “in a format that is convenient, readily available for evidence-based decision making.”
He said further, “It is against this background that the Ministry of Health of Dominica has partnered with the World Meteorological Organisation under the Global Framework for Climate Services, the Pan American Health Organization and Health Canada to conduct an assessment of the impact of climate variability and climate change.”
Dr. Johnson revealed that that assessment will be conducted on three priority areas: vector-borne diseases, food and water safety in Dominica, and the development of an adaptation plan to reduce the potential impact on the population’s health.
The Hon. Minister for Health and the Environment, Dr. Kenneth Darroux acknowledges that Dominica is especially threatened by the impact of climate change. He says unforeseen weather events pose a challenge to the country’s financial resources.
He adds that the health sector is also affected since there is a link between population, health and climate change.
“Weather and climate conditions have strong influences on the occurrence and distribution of some of the most important infectious disease burdens such as diarrhoea, malaria and other vector-borne and water-borne diseases.
“Most importantly weather and climate affect the natural and managed ecological services that underpin population health including the availability of fresh water and agricultural production.
The Pan-American Health Organization assisted Dominica to conduct several assessments and a draft Plan of Action was developed in 2014 leading up to this national consultation.
PAHO’s Sustainable Development Advisor, Sally Edwards recognized the efforts of Dominica’s Ministry of Health saying that Dominica is leading the way in the Eastern Caribbean in conducting such assessments.
She said, “I would like to commend Dominica for their vision in developing a national climate change steering committee and including health on that committee which is often a forgotten sector certainly in neighbouring countries. I think you have a great leader at your helm who happens to not only be the Minister for Health but also the Minster for Environment. I think you are on a great path.”
National Consultant, Marielle Verret, who spearheaded the assessments also praised Dominica for being first in the Caribbean to link health to climate change.
She says Dominica’s assessments will be used as a template for the rest of the region.