World Health Day

HEALTH Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday urged Guyanese to renew their commitment to ensuring the health of all, as Guyana joined the world in observing World Health Day 2008.

The occasion was held under the theme “Protecting Health from Climate Change”.

Addressing a gathering of health and climate change officials at a workshop at the Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Street, Georgetown, he emphasized that climate change is beyond an environmental issue as it also affects development.

He appealed for global action to combat the issue and emphasized that development cannot take place unless the health of citizens is intact.

The health minister acknowledged that while strides were made in addressing the issue at last year’s Bali Summit, more still needs to be done.

Dr Ramsammy pointed out that Guyana has long recognized the impact of the climate change phenomenon, and is ahead of many countries in controlling the problem.

He praised the country’s efforts in leading the fight to mitigate its adverse impact, but contended more must be done to measure its impact on the health sector.

The minister said that flooding and mosquitoes, particularly in the hinterland regions, will be brought closer under the microscope as they pose serious health risks.

In the case of flooding, he noted that much work has been done to build up immunization against leptospirosis, a water-borne disease. Work in this area will continue, as well as programmes already in place to combat malaria.

The medical doctor warned that climate change will also have complex implications for the agriculture sector, invariably affect the health of citizens, since good health is dependent on good nutrition.

Already, the phenomenon has caused global food shortages and higher prices for agriculture products, as adverse weather conditions are taking their toll on production.

The minister stressed that national governments as well as citizens have a critical role to play in mitigating the impact of the unfriendly weather patterns.

He implored Guyanese to devise personal ways to control the situation, such as the safe disposal of garbage, and walking rather than driving short distances.

These simple measures, Dr Ramsammy said, will lessen the impact on the nation’s children and future grand children.

Pan American Heath Organization (PAHO) representative to Guyana, Dr Kathleen Israel, emphasized that even though Guyana is not a major emitter of the green house gases that lead to global warming, the impact locally can be much the same as that on chief emitting countries.

“ In fact, the impact on Guyana can be greater on the poor, the children, pregnant women, older adults, the marginalized and the indigenous populations, due to certain fragile infrastructure and vulnerabilities such as the reality that the vast majority of the Guyanese population is located in lands below sea level,” she noted.

She stressed that immediate action is needed, since the unpredictable changing weather conditions could result in disease outbreaks associated with climate change, changes in marine and terrestrial ecosystem, as well as damage to infrastructure.

The health expert said, however, that while the health impact of climate change could take years or decades to be reversed, much of the possible impact can be avoided or controlled.

Dr Israel recommitted PAHO’s and the World Health Organization’s support in working with the local health authorities and all other partners in Guyana to increase awareness and strengthen health systems to guard against all climate change consequences.

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7, the date the WHO was established.

It presents an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to an issue or subject of major importance to global health. This year’s celebration coincides with the 60th anniversary of WHO, and aims at galvanising public participation in the global campaign to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change.