Original Research

Climate adaptation in the public health sector in Africa: Evidence from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change National Communications

Godwell Nhamo, Shepherd Muchuru
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies | Vol 11, No 1 | a644; | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v11i1.644 | © 2019 Godwell Nhamo, Shepherd Muchuru | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 March 2018 | Published: 09 April 2019

About the author(s)

Godwell Nhamo, Institute for Corporate Citizenship, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Shepherd Muchuru, Institute for Corporate Citizenship, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Climate change has potential to affect human health in various ways. Extreme temperatures and cold both result in deaths, while the changing habitats favouring the breeding of vectors could result in the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera and typhus. This article reviews climate change adaptation measures in the African public health sector. The evidence is drawn from National Communications of 21 countries as submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This article combines the literature review and grounded theory approaches with data obtained from the UNFCCC National Communications. Among key adaptation measures emerging from the work are weather-based forecasting and early warning systems, public education and awareness, putting in place appropriate policies, surveillance, research and monitoring as well as improving public health infrastructure and technology. The study recommends that African nations should commit to address health impacts of climate change through the implementation of appropriate adaptation measures.

Keywords

Africa; adaptation; climate change; health; sustainable; UNFCCC

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3442
Total article views: 3450

 

Crossref Citations

1. Yaşam Bilimleri Profesyonellerinin İklim Değişikliğinin Sağlık Etkileri Konusunda Eğitim İhtiyaçları Var Mı?
Dicle Seher AKAY, Gülçin AKCA, Ali Derya ATİK, Figen ERKOÇ
The Journal of International Lingual Social and Educational Sciences  vol: 6  issue: 1  first page: 141  year: 2020  
doi: 10.34137/jilses.684622