Review of Emerging Health Risks due to Climate Change and Develop an Inventory of Good Practice and Adaptation Measuresto Reduce the Adverse Health Implications of Climate Change in the context of Different Ecological Conditions in Nepal

Abstract

Background: It is now universally acknowledged that the climate change we are witnessing will continue for a long time. This obviously has serious implications for human health. Clearly Nepal is facing climate change-induced consequences in many spheres of society and development. While some have been studied, data are still scarce and it is difficult to draw clear conclusions for future adaptation measures. How climate change will affect health is also not clear and often missing in all sectoral studies. On September 1, 2007 the Health Ministers from 11 Member States of WHO’s South East Asia Region adopted the “Thimphu Declaration on International Health Security in the South-East Asia Region”. The Thimphu Declaration recognizes natural and manmade health emergencies, emerging infectious diseases and climate change as threats to international health security. The Declaration calls on countries to develop national mitigation and adaptation plans to address the health impact of global warming and climate change. To give follow-up to the Thimpu Declaration, Nepal Health Research Council (Under Ministry of Health and Population) with the support of World health Organization Country Office, Nepal organized " National Workshop on Climate Change and Human Health: Potential Impact, Vulnerability and Adaptation in Kathmandu, Nepal (19-21 December, 2007". The workshop was really a unique and probably first time in Nepal bringing together concerned sectors together and placing the health impact at the center of discussion. One of the key recommendations of the workshop was to generate the evidences for the uncertainties presented in the workshop and develop strategies for adaptation measures. Protecting health from climate change was the theme for World Health Day (7 April 2008) and WHO's 60thanniversary celebration. The World Health Day 2008 was celebrated successfully in Nepal with the active participation of senior officers of Ministry of Health and Population.