The launch will take place this Thursday (13), during COP30; according to the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, the creation of the document took place with the United Kingdom, Egypt, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates
The Ministry of Health will launch this Thursday (13), during the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (), in , the first international climate adaptation plan dedicated exclusively to health. According to the portfolio holder, , the document presents concrete actions so that countries can prepare their response systems to the effects of climate change on the health of populations, especially the most vulnerable.
According to Padilha, he led the construction of the plan together with four other countries that held the last five COPs: the United Kingdom, Egypt, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates, the so-called Baku group.
“We presented the first formulation of this plan in May, at the General Assembly meeting of the World Health Organization, in Geneva. And, since then, there have been public consultations, thematic meetings and collaborations. So, the expectation is that dozens of countries will formally announce the commitment to implement this action plan in their countries as well”, he highlighted in an interview with Brazil Agency.
In the ministry’s assessment, extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, are increasingly frequent and have been a growing challenge for health systems. Rising temperatures also impact the proliferation of diseases, such as dengue fever, and mortality from extreme heat or other diseases related to air quality, such as respiratory diseases. There are also factors related to increased inequality and reduced quality of life.
The international climate adaptation plan for health systems will be launched during the COP’s official health day, at a meeting in the Blue Zone, the conference’s official negotiating area, as part of the Brazilian presidency’s agenda at the event. Adherence, according to Padilha, is voluntary, but the Ministry of Health will continue to discuss the matter in international forums.
“Our expectation is that the COP’s final resolutions will place health as a central theme. Integrating health and climate is a central theme in tackling climate change. We are saying that health is the main facet, the most critical facet, which can even adapt systems to help mobilize society”, he stated.
An example of application of this new plan could be the reconstruction of health services in Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, a city in Paraná devastated by a tornado last weekend.
“We have already made this decision, it will be a demonstration of this adaptation plan to rebuild the health units there [Rio Bonito do Iguaçu] with a characteristic that we are calling a resilient health unit. In other words, that its constructive pattern survives situations like this, that the structure, for example, of connection, is an adaptable connection so that, if there is a break in the connection system, you have adaptable situations to maintain the health information systems. Maintaining, for example, the Popular Pharmacy information system, which is very important to guarantee medication”, he explained.
Over the weekend, the federal government mobilized teams from different areas, including the National Force, made up of public health doctors, nurses and mental health specialists, to work in the city of Paraná, in support of local forces.
Lines of action
The international health adaptation plan has three lines of action. One is the monitoring of data, such as the increase in temperature and its gradual impacts on the illness profile of populations. The second is the construction of health system structures that are resistant to disasters and capable of operating in critical situations, with stocks of water, energy and connectivity.
Finally, the third axis addresses the need for health care for the most vulnerable populations in the territories, with the capacity to carry out exams, surgeries and permanent monitoring.
So that the plans can be implemented in practice, Padilha pointed out that there will be redirection of resources already existing in the budget to prioritize this type of action. The minister also cited the attraction of private resources and financing from multilateral banks.
“Brazil has already been carrying out adaptation actions that attract international resources. Around US$ 160 million were allocated to Brazil in actions to adapt the health service. And, with this plan and with Brazilian leadership, we believe that we will be able to attract even more resources, from international financiers, some who are at the COP, banks, development agencies”, he mentioned.
According to Alexandre Padilha, the Brazilian government is working on a financing request from the BRICS bank, the New Development Bank (NBD), to obtain more than US$350 million to be invested in the construction of so-called smart hospitals. “These are urgent and emergency hospitals, which are resilient to the tragedies of climate change.”
*With information from Agência Brasil
Published by Nícolas Robert
