KATHMANDU, Jan 28: Experts have warned that the impacts of climate change are already straining Nepal's health systems, amplifying risks and vulnerabilities for its population.
The National Conclave on Climate Change and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) held on Monday in Kathmandu emphasized the multifaceted effects of climate change disproportionately affecting women, girls, children, the elderly, and marginalized communities.
Organized by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) and the Ministry of Forests and Environment, in collaboration with Ipas Nepal, the conclave focused on the pressing impacts of climate change on health, particularly SRHR.
Speaking at the program, climate expert Bimal Raj Regmi emphasized the multidimensional impacts of climate change on health, particularly SRHR, drawing on global, regional, and local evidence. “We must view climate change as a common issue of shared interest,” Regmi said, stressing the importance of recognizing the disproportionate effects of climate change and formulating targeted policies. He highlighted the need to enhance adaptive capacity and uplift vulnerable communities to ensure sustainability.
SHIFT for Our Planet: Youths urge authorities to make climate j...
Additional Health Secretary at the MoHP, Tanka Barakoti, underlined the link between SRHR and climate change, particularly in the context of disasters that exacerbate vulnerabilities. Maheshwar Dhakal, joint secretary of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, noted that SRHR intersects with broader issues such as water, health, and sanitation, as outlined in Nepal’s National Climate Change Policy 2019.
“Climate finance should be integrated across sectors, and both public and private stakeholders must combine efforts to address these issues effectively,” he added.
Chief of the Health Coordination Division at MoHP Bhim Prasad Sapkota shared progress on the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP), effective from 2023 to 2030. He highlighted ongoing initiatives, including climate-related disease surveillance, climate-resilient health facility pilots, and training programs. However, he acknowledged the need for accelerated responses, better research, and stronger resource mobilization to address the rapid impacts of climate change.
Deputy Mayor of Sharada Municipality Susmita Sapkota discussed challenges at the local level, including climate-driven gender-based violence and child marriage, often exacerbated by disasters and displacement. She emphasized the importance of aligning local policies with federal frameworks and implementing climate-friendly activities to mitigate risks.
Program Specialist Khusbu Poudel from Ipas Nepal highlighted significant gaps in awareness and resources for women’s reproductive health. “Nearly 50% of women are unaware of their right to safe abortion or access to contraceptives,” she said. Poudel called for empowering women and building evidence to address the compounded impacts of climate change on SRHR.
Jagadishwor Ghimire, country director of Ipas Nepal said, "Through our collective efforts, we can address the issues related to climate change and SRHR in an intersectional approach. It is crucial to enhance access to potential financial and other resources through government bodies, donor agencies, international and national NGOs, and civil society organizations. By effectively managing these resources, we can ensure the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in the face of climate-related risks and disasters and a climate-resilient healthcare system."
Chief Guest Rupa BK, state minister for the Ministry of Forest and Environment, emphasized the need to raise awareness about the root causes of climate change, especially among indigenous and marginalized communities. National Planning Commission Vice-Chair Shivaraj Adhikari called for enhanced preparedness and a cluster-based approach to address the multifaceted challenges of climate change.
The conclave concluded with a unified call for integrated efforts to address the impacts of climate change on SRHR in Nepal. Experts stressed the need for collaborative actions among government ministries, donor agencies, and local stakeholders to build climate-resilient health systems, close research gaps, and ensure sustainable development and climate justice for all.
-1200x560_20231227164155.jpg)
