By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – Integrating climate change mitigation efforts with health initiatives reportedly presents an opportunity to boost resilience against the impacts of both global warming and HIV/AIDS. This unified approach has been touted as having potential to address the vulnerabilities that climate change exacerbates disease transmission.
The recent webinar hosted by Ntlafatso Foundation, a youth-led non-governmental organisation (NGO) mandated to eliminate stigma around outbreaking and rare diseases through promoting psychosocial health through self-efficacy, social support, and spirituality and aiming to change mindsets and raise health awareness through impactful communication, leads strong calls for action. Many speakers [U1] have championed the integration of climate and health solutions in Lesotho.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that “The health community has a critical role in the response to climate change. The emerging evidence and experience in this area suggests that to be fully effective, this requires a broad public health approach, including not only the preventive and curative functions that are under direct control of the formal health sector, but also appropriate leadership, guidance and regulatory roles with regard to health-determining sectors and functions, such as water and sanitation, or disaster risk reduction.
“Due to the strong influence of social determinants on health vulnerabilities, overall progress in alleviation of poverty, reduction of inequities in the social and environmental determinants of health, and strengthening of basic public health interventions are critical to health protection from climate change. There is also a need for more specific efforts to adapt to changing climate through a continuing and iterative process of assessing health risks, identifying, prioritizing, and implementing adaptation options, and monitoring and evaluation.”
It has emerged in the presentations that human vulnerabilities, especially women, have been compounded by climate change.
One of the presenters Lerato Thoahlane indicates how climate change related disasters can “disproportionately” affect women and girls, exposing them to pandemic setbacks such as HIV/AIDS transmissions.
Climate change leads to reduced food production which in turn contributes to food insecurity and malnutrition, thus worsening the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Central to her message is that climate change is a complex phenomenon with far reaching implications on both the environment and the people. She says the climate can lead to a spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and diarrhea and these she noted can badly affect people already with weak immune systems due to HIV.
“Climate change poses significant challenges to the global fight against HIV especially in [regions] like Africa that are already facing environmental and socio-economic stress,” she states.
Disruptions caused by climate change, Thoahlane says, also result in displacement in which people can find themselves migrating to overcrowded areas with poor living conditions.
The World Bank also reports that, “Women in particular face barriers to access information and resources needed to adequately prepare, respond and cope to a disaster ─ including access to early warning and safe shelter, as well as to bank accounts to protect savings from disasters and stable income.”
Addressing the topic of ‘Assessing vulnerabilities and vulnerable populations to climate change,’ the Child protection and HIV/AIDS protection specialist, Thabo Lebaka says the extent of impact of climate change on a group of people or individuals can be determined by “exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity”.
The impact of the climate change is felt “differently” depending on the situation at hand be it El Niño, floods, protracted drought by different demographics and locations.
The vulnerability of human health to climate change could lead to various impacts, including injuries, acute and chronic diseases, mental health disorders, stress-related illnesses, developmental challenges, and even death.
The child protection and HIV/AIDS protection specialist identifies groups most susceptible to climate-induced vulnerabilities, highlighting children; adolescents and young people; women and girls; individuals living with HIV; herdboys; and rural-urban migrants as particularly at risk.
He adds: “Children are more susceptible to heat stress, air pollution, and waterborne diseases, which are exacerbated by climate change. Their developing bodies and immune systems male them more vulnerable to these health risks.
“Pregnant and Postpartum women are more vulnerable to heat stress and dehydration, which can have adverse effects on both mother and fetus. Postpartum women may face challenges breastfeeding and caring for their infants during extreme weather events.”
According to the World Bank, Lesotho’s geographical characteristics and socio-economic conditions, especially among its rural population, make the country one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Additionally, Lesotho’s vulnerability is heightened by its heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture and dependence on regional, imported energy supplies.
Lebaka goes on to show that people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes are most vulnerable to complications from extreme heat, air pollution, and other climate related hazards. Also, people with disabilities are not spared as he said they may face challenges evacuating or accessing medical care during disasters and could have increased sensitivity to extreme temperatures and other environmental stressors.
The speakers also emphasizes the importance of collaboration among organizations pursuing similar interests. They advocated for the inclusion of people living with HIV and young people in decision-making processes.
They also highlight the need to address a gap by empowering youth to champion the integration of HIV/AIDS issues into broader climate change discussions.
Youth advocate and environmental activist, Reekelitsoe Molapo says HIV/AIDS issues must be mainstreamed in climate policies and documents in a clear and pronounced manner.
To enhance the country’s resilience, she says climate change mitigation efforts with health initiatives should be integrated to arrest the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The climate change activist emphasized the need for investment in data collection and monitoring systems to track the impacts of climate change on health and HIV/AIDS. She further recommends that the latest findings be incorporated to inform and refine policies, ensuring they are grounded in up-to-date evidence and best practices.
She urges the youth to familiarize themselves with climate change laws and policies and to actively engage in decision-making processes. By doing so, they can ensure meaningful influence and participation in shaping their country’s future.
[U1]Reference one or two of such speakers