The health experts resolved to urgently gear up health systems to protect human health from climate change. “The poor are most vulnerable to climate change. Scarcity of drinking water will swell diarrheal outbreaks and reduced food production will negate efforts to bring down malnutrition among poor children. Climate change will have dramatic cost implications for the health sector. Countries in South-East Asia need to take urgent action to prepare for the added disease burden,” said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.
The member states will focus on increasing awareness and improving knowledge on the health consequences of climate change. The experts also agreed to introduce climate change and health dimensions into educational curricula at all levels, in particular in medical schools in their respective countries. Similarly, the experts agreed to set a target of eliminating measles mortality in all the member states by the year 2020.
Likewise, WHO urged each member states to contribute US$ 1 million from the WHO Regular Budget for 2010-2011 to the regional emergency fund, continue to contribute on a voluntary basis to the fund and to advocate for contributions by donors.
WHO also urged the member states to take measures to strengthen the national regulatory authorities by enhancing their capacity to ensure for all, and particularly to vulnerable groups, access to safe, efficacious, quality and affordable medical products.The health ministers of the member states had on Tuesday concluded their 27th meeting committing to make health facilities more resilient by adopting the Kathmandu Declaration on Protecting Health Facilities from Disasters. WHO has also advised the countries of the region to be prepared for a winter surge in flu cases during the meeting on Wednesday.
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